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US Ambassador Oberwetter with Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Saud Al Faisal, February 2005. (photo: US Embassy Riyadh)
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| By israelinsider staff March 28, 2007 |
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Diplomatic representatives of the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Israel have been holding secret talks with the purpose of reaching a just solution to the Palestinian refugee situation; namely, one that does not involve the right of return, Ynetnews reported. The initiative would offer financial compensation to those willing to remain in their current countries of residence.
The discussions were run by senior American officials, and included Saudi Secretary-General of the National Security Council, Prince Bandar Bin Sultan, the Saudi ambassador to the United States, and high-level Israeli officials.
According to the new proposal, those Palestinians who refuse to remain in their current residences and insist on the right of return will be allowed to return to Palestinian territories only. Their return would be arranged with the Palestinian Authority, to prevent a sudden influx of Palestinians and to avoid economic problems.
Concurrent to the financial compensation, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States will fund programs to improve the refugees' quality of life and provide them with more jobs. This plan will require billions of dollars in funding.
Ynetnews does not give details about how Palestinian refugees will be defined according to the proposal, which gives precedence to aiding the refugees in Lebanon. According to the report, that there are 300,000 Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and their condition is reportedly "very bad." There is no explanation as to why Lebanon has not done more to improve their situation.
Jordan, which has the highest number of Palestinian refugees, and several emirates of the United Arab Emirates' seven emirates, have already expressed their support of the plan.
The diplomats expect Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to reject the plan. Gaddafi, who has called Israel a "colonialist-imperialist phenomenon," is boycotting the Arab League summit in Riyadh because he fears that Arab leaders may give up the Palestinian right of return in a bid to please Israel and advance the Saudi peace plan.
Thousands of Palestinian refugees live in Libya and Gaddafi may deport them if the compensation initiative is approved. In 1995, Libya deported thousands of Palestinians following the signing of the Oslo accords.
Diplomats are also unclear on Syria's position on the initiative. Syria has over 200,000 Palestinian refugees. |
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