Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal on Saturday hailed the world court's ruling against Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank as historic, saying it should be praised rather than condemned.
"Those who are concerned to see law prevailing in international relations would consider this ruling historic," Prince Saud told a news conference in the Red Sea city of Jeddah aired on the Al-Ekhbaria news channel.
"This decision deserves praise and support rather than condemnation and reproof," he said.
In a judgement already criticised by the United States, the world court ruled Friday that the 700-kilometer (435-mile) barrier violates international law and that those parts encroaching on Palestinian territory should be dismantled.
Saudi newspapers earlier Saturday trumpeted the ruling but were sceptical whether Israel would heed it.
"World Court Rules Wall Illegal," wrote the Arab News in a banner headline.
In an editorial, the English-language daily played down expectations of the non-binding judgement from the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
"History shows that Israel will now sit tight and hope that the United States will once again come to its aid by blocking any further action," the paper said.
However, with the United States in need of UN support to "disengage itself from the troubles it has unleashed in Iraq," the administration of President George W. Bush might find it more difficult this time round to condone Israel's rejection of the ruling, the paper argued.
"In the normal course of affairs the United States would squash any anti-Israeli initiative with its Security Council veto, but this is not a good moment for the Bush White House to start laying down the law at the UN.