King appeals for interfaith talks

Saudi King Abdullah has made an impassioned plea for dialogue among Muslims, Christians and Jews, the first such proposal from a nation with no diplomatic ties to Israel and a ban on non-Muslim religious services and symbols.

The message, welcomed by Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders, came at a time of stalled peace initiatives and escalating tensions in the region.

“The idea is to ask representatives of all monotheistic religions to sit together with their brothers in faith . . . as we all believe in the same God,” the king said Monday night.

The specifics of the initiative remained unclear.