Text Only
Search

 
Arab Leaders Relaunch Peace Plan, Urge Israel to Accept Initiative

29 March 2007

Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, right, Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, rear center and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak at the closing session of the Arab summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 29 March 2007
Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, right, Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, rear center and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak at the closing session of the Arab summit in Riyadh, 29 Mar 2007
Arab leaders have re-launched a land-for-peace plan with Israel and are urging the Jewish state to accept the initiative.

The leaders formally approved the plan Thursday at the conclusion of a two-day Arab League summit in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.  The leaders say the proposal offers the possibility of peace and recognition with all of Israel's neighbors. 

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is urging Israel not to miss another chance to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Arab leaders first launched the plan in 2002.  Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says the plan, with some changes, could be a basis for talks between Israel and moderate Arab states.  But the Arab League approved the plan with no changes.

The plan calls for normal relations with Israel if it withdraws from land captured in the 1967 Six-Day War.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said Israel should accept the Arab proposal first, and then move to negotiations. 

In a speech at the summit Wednesday, Saudi King Abdullah called for an end to the Western aid embargo on the Palestinian government, calling it "unjust."

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon attended the summit in his first visit to the Middle East since taking office.  He said instability in the Arab League states is  "of profound significance for international peace and security."

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.

 

emailme.gif E-mail This Article
printerfriendly.gif Print Version

  Related Stories
Arab Leaders Discuss Regional Peace
Saudi King Abdullah Denounces US Military Presence in Iraq
Israeli Police Remove Settlers From West Bank Outpost
 
  Top Story
North Korea Demands Apology After Naval Clash with South

  More Stories
Obama Wants to Visit Hiroshima, Nagasaki in Future
Bomb Rocks Northwestern Pakistan
Obama to Visit Families of Fort Hood Shooting Victims
Officials Warn of Possible Collapse of Palestinian Authority
Hariri Names New Lebanese Government After Five Week Vacuum  Audio Clip Available
Clinton Urges 'Compassion' for Americans Detained in Iran  Audio Clip Available
Tropical Storm Ida Aims For US Gulf Coast;  State of Emergency in Effect
Berlin Wall Celebration Marked by Joy and Caution  Audio Clip Available
Obama Makes First China Tour as Economic Interdependence Grows  Video clip available
APEC Economies Report Improved Trade Finance, Discuss Free Trade  Audio Clip Available
Scientists Report Abnormal Sea Level Rises Off Western Australia  Audio Clip Available