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King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia (file)
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| By israelinsider staff March 29, 2007 |
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Arab leaders signed a resolution at the start of this year's Arab League Summit at Riyadh Wednesday, stating their dedication to the 2002 Saudi peace initiative.
The Arab leaders unanimous agreed on the resolution, which includes the normalizations of all Arab-Israeli diplomatic relations, Israel's return to the 1967 borders, and the Palestinian right of return.
The resolution stated that the Arab leasers must "reaffirm the commitment of all Arab states to the Arab peace initiative as approved at the Beirut summit in 2002 in all its elements."
It stated that they must also "reaffirm their call to the government of Israel and all Israelis to accept the Arab peace initiative and seize the opportunity to resume the process of direct and serious negotiations on all tracks."
During the summit, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia urged attendees to overcome their disagreements so that the Arab leaders could present a unified stance on Iraq, Lebanon and the Palestinian-Israeli issue. He also said that the blockade on the PA must be removed, Ynetnews reported.
The Saudis presented the plan as a "take it or leave it deal": if Israel did not accept it "as is," the Arab League would consider it an act of war.
EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana, a guest of the summit, seemed optimistic, calling the resolution a basis for further negotiations, and asking the Arab leaders to remain flexible.
Despite the ultimative approach by the Arabs, and the inclusion of demands unacceptable to every previous Israeli government, the Olmert government thought it was all pretty keen, and sought to "spin" the results as if they were somehow compatible with the Quartet-backed "road map" despite the lack of any demands on Palestinian compliance or concessions.
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni seemed particularly optimistic over recent events, saying during a meeting with Condoleezza Rice, before the US Secretary of State's departure from the region, that "in spite of the complex diplomatic situation, we found a common denominator reflecting the aspiration to advance the diplomatic process, while maintaining Israel's essential interests.
"There are risks and disappointments here, particularly in terms of the Palestinian side's conduct, but this is the important agreement from Rice's visit: Launching a dialogue on the essence of the Palestinian state, subject to the Road Map stages."
Livni continued, "Lacking a possibility to advance the permanent agreement under the existing conditions, we located the common denominator for us, the Palestinians, the moderates in the Arab world and the international community -- one that also advances Israel's essential interests.
"In any scenario, the results of the process should be an independent Palestinian state which does not endanger Israel. The discussion of the characteristics of the Palestinian state now advances the chance to reach an agreement and gives Israel an opportunity.... And all this, without conceding the demand to implement all stages of the Road Map," Livni concluded.
Vice Premier Shimon Peres also reacted to current developments in the peace process, citing the challenges ahead.
"There are disagreements between us. The question is how to overcome them -- through dictations and force, or negotiations?" stated Peres "They will come with their stances and we will come with ours. We will discuss them and reach an agreement, like we did with Egypt and Jordan," he said.
Defense Minister Amir Peretz suggested Wednesday that Israel propose its own peace plan to the Arab Summit, citing unacceptable demands in the Saudi initiative, such as the Palestinian right of return.
"We must show courage and be willing to negotiate a permanent agreement. This will completely change the rules of the game and offer the Palestinians a political horizon which will neutralize extremist Arab figures, it will allow moderates to unite and reach an understanding with Israel. We must not forget that they have an interest to keep radical forces from leading the Arab world," stated Peretz,
Peretz also said, while at an event marking the 40-year anniversary of the Six Day War, "We should, today with the perspective of 40 years time, do a serious examination and ask ourselves whether the celebrated victory of 1967 was a blessing or a curse.
"Their interest is not only in relations with Israel, they have an additional interest, just as important, and that is the threat they sense from Iran. And here we can use this as leverage for dialogue," Peretz said. |
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