WASHINGTON (December 24): ARAB countries might unload their gold and dollar reserves in economic warfare against the U.S. dollar if Israeli occupation of Arab territory continues, according to the Algerian Industry Minister Mr Belaid Abdessalem.
Mr Abdessalem, who has been in the United States for talks with U.S. officials and as spokesman for the Arab oil producing countries, was asked whether the Arabs might use their monetary reserves against the dollar in world money markets.
'If the Israeli occupation persists,' he said, 'if the problem of the Palestinians is not solved, and if the United States continues to support the hostile attitude of Israel, then the Arabs, in turn, will consider hostile attitudes towards the U.S - financial as well as political.' 'The Americans will see their own economic weapons turned against them.'
