Saudi Arabia refused to shake hands with Israelis at the opening dinner of the Annapolis, Maryland conference on peace in the Middle East Monday night. Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said, "We are here for the serious business of making peace. It is not a sporting contest where you shake hands and let the best man win."

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert commented, "If someone doesn't want to shake my hand, I won't extend mine."

American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice sat between Prime Minister Olmert and Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and made sure that the Saudi delegate's seat was not placed next to that of an Israeli in order that they would not be photographed as being together.