March 29, 2007

Middle East: Israel Likely To Reject Arab Proposal

Arab leaders presented a unified front today at the Arab League summit in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia, reviving a plan from a 2002 summit in Beirut that asks Israel to accept a land-for-peace deal and enter into direct negotiations.

But the plan -- at least, as it currently stands -- doesn't look likely to succeed. Israel already rejected it once in 2002 on the grounds that it included a return to the borders before the 1967 war, which divided Jerusalem in two, and guaranteed the right of return for Palestinians. AP reports that "Israel has said it could accept the offer with some changes, but the Arab leaders refused the amend it.

"Instead, they created 'working groups' that will seek to drum up support for the deal from the U.S., U.N. and Europe. U.S. allies Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan hope the smaller groups will be able to be more flexible in promoting the offer to win acceptance, despite the summit's rejection of changes."

Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres said in a radio interview that the Israelis want negotiations: "I don't think we need to predetermine what we accept or don't accept. Each side should come with their own positions and negotiate from there."

Reuters noted that the Arab League summit "comes against a tense regional backdrop with fears high among Arab leaders that a U.S.-led attack on Shi'ite Muslim Iran, which has refused to comply with U.N. demands to halt atomic work, could further destabilize their region."

Posted at 10:38 AM
Posted to: Middle East
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