But Hezbollah could have easily turned over the soldiers, couldn't they?

"Saudi Arabia warns everybody that if the peace option fails because of Israeli arrogance, there will be no other option but war," state-owned media quoted the king as saying.

Arab governments have often said that since the last Arab-Israeli war in 1973 they have decided to pursue peace as a means to end disputes over occupied land and the status of the Palestinians. The king's comments suggested that Arab governments could decide to rethink that approach.

"No one can predict what will happen if things get out of control," said the statement from the king.

"The Arabs have declared peace as a strategic choice ... and put forward a clear and fair proposal of land for peace and have ignored [Arab] extremist calls opposing the peace proposal ... but patience cannot last forever."

[Hezbollah]