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Last update - 00:00 19/10/2008
Barak: Israel giving serious thought to Saudi peace plan
By Haaretz Service and The Associated Press
Tags: saudi peace plan, ehud barak 

Defense Minister and Labor Party Chairman Ehud Barak said Sunday that Israeli leaders have been discussing pursuing a comprehensive Saudi peace plan, an initiative touted by the moderate Arab elements across the Middle East.

Barak told Army Radio on Sunday that with individual negotiations with Syria and the Palestinians making little headway, it may be time to pursue an overall peace deal for the region.

"There is room in the Israeli coalition for the Saudi initiative," he said. "We have a mutual interest with moderate Arab elements on the issues of Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas."
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The defense minister President Shimon Peres is in agreement with such consideration and he has spoken about the matter with Prime Minister-designate Tzipi Livni about the matter as well.

While outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, has welcomed the Saudi
plan, he and other leaders want to keep small parts of the territories
captured in the 1967 Six Day War.

Israel also objects to language in the Saudi plan that appears to endorse a large-scale return of Palestinian refugees to lands inside Israel. Israel says a massive influx of Palestinians would destroy the country's Jewish character.

Peres proposed merging Israel's various peace talks into one track last month at the United Nations. In a speech to the General Assembly, he called on Saudi King Abdullah to further his initiative. He has since been pushing the idea in meeting with Israeli, Arab and Western officials, his office said.

In Sunday's interview, Barak said he was in full agreement with Peres, and had discussed the peace plan with Livni as well.

"I had the impression that there is indeed an openness to explore any path, including this one," he said of his talks with Livni.

Barak said Israel had to tread lightly, though, so as not to appear to be
coming from a position of patronage to the entire Arab world.

"We are one of the players and it is proper that we introduce an initiative," he said. Livni's office refused to comment on her talks with Barak.

The Saudi peace initiative was first proposed in 2002. It offers pan-Arab
recognition of Israel in exchange for Israel's withdrawal from Arab lands
captured in 1967.

Erekat: Plan doesn't necessarily undermine Israel-PA talks

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat noted that pursuing the Saudi peace initiative did not necessarily undermine the direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians and he encouraged Israel to pursue this track.

"I think Israel should have done this since 2002. It is the most strategic initiative that came from the Arab world since 1948," he said. "I urge them to revisit this initiative and to go with it because it will shorten the way to peace."

Analyst Ghassan Khatib, a former minister in the Palestinian Cabinet, said that although the Israeli interest in the six-year-old plan was a little bit late the plan was still valid and offered the most promising potential way forward.

"I strongly believe that the Arab initiative is the best approach to peace between the Arabs and the Israelis," he told The Associated Press. "It fulfills all the legitimate objectives of Israel and those of the Palestinians and at the same time it has this regional dimension and it reflects one of the rare issues on which Arabs have consensus."

Yuval Steinitz, an MK from the conservative opposition Likud Party and a member of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, said that for Israel the Saudi plan is a non-starter.

"It doesn't recognize Israel's right to defensible borders... [and] demands Palestinian refugees settle in the Jewish state as well as the Palestinian state, which is totally unacceptable and contradicts the essence of the two state solution," he told the AP. "That's why I am really surprised that Barak made these remarks, it was strictly an empty political gesture."

Arab foreign ministers reendorsed the proposal at an Arab League summit in Damascus in March. The ratification included the declaration that advabcement of the plans would depend on whether Israel fulfill its commitment to international agreements.

"The continuation by the Arab side to present the Arab peace initiative is tied to Israel executing its commitments in the framework of international resolutions to achieve peace in the region," a Damascus declaration said.

Arab officials have said that withdrawing the peace plan is not an option and in public they have not proposed alternatives.

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      1.   Ultimately the best deal for Israel 12:19  |  Natallie Durson 19/10/08
      2.   Time for Elections 12:29  |  Michael Hessler 19/10/08
      3.   Yawn. Wake me up when Israel stops thinking, starts doing 12:41  |  Michael 19/10/08
      4.   Natallie`s discourse: "Good, but sadly ...) you know Israel... 12:43  |  Israeli citizen 19/10/08
      5.   Natallie`s discourse: "Good, but sadly ...) you know Israel... 12:52  |  Israeli citizen 19/10/08
      6.   Thank God for Iranian support to both Syria... 13:13  |  Dutch Dirk 19/10/08
      7.   Topsy-turvy world is olam hasheker 13:13  |  Ilan 19/10/08
      8.   Correction! 13:18  |  Arab 19/10/08
      9.   History, History!!! 13:20  |  Ofer 19/10/08
      10.   #1 and #2, rubbish talkbackers 14:03  |  Shai 19/10/08
      11.   Peace plan with hessler? 14:06  |  mario 19/10/08
      12.   No worries Israelis, Nothing will actually 14:15  |  spyguy 19/10/08
      13.   Shai, Shai, Shai, gotta side with Shai... 14:32  |  dyinglikeflies 19/10/08
      14.   BARAK IS PLAYING POLITICS WITH PEOPLE LIVES 14:44  |  indrajaya 19/10/08
      15.   Dutch Dirk 14:45  |  rich 19/10/08
      16.   "Johnny come lately", Israeli politicians style..... 14:46  |  Swiss (Dino) 19/10/08
      17.   Surrender 14:52  |  Ron 19/10/08
      18.   Can They Deliver? 14:55  |  Joe 19/10/08
      19.   Israel doesn`t owe the Arabs a thing 14:58  |  Michael Jacobs 19/10/08
      20.   Gamblers might call this "going for broke" 15:01  |  Raymond in DC 19/10/08
      21.   Is this in historical context...? 15:03  |  Esther 19/10/08
      22.   Ultra Leftism and Wahhabism 15:05  |  Brod 19/10/08
      23.   One problem: there are no "moderate" Arab elements 15:21  |  McQueen 19/10/08
      24.   Show me the Arab Moderates? 15:22  |  Avi 19/10/08
      25.   Dutch Dirk 15:27  |  Israeli citizen 19/10/08
      26.   It`s logical to pursue this comprehensive peace plan as well 15:38  |  Smadar 19/10/08
      27.   Saudi Plan 15:40  |  Charles 19/10/08
      28.   Iran Saudi Plan No Difference 15:45  |  Ralph Levy 19/10/08
      29.   Natallie`s comment 15:55  |  Charles 19/10/08
      30.   And the story goes... 16:17  |  THK 19/10/08
      31.   #6 Dutch Dirk 16:25  |  THK 19/10/08
      32.   Realism may prevail. 16:38  |  zaz 19/10/08
      33.   The military growth of Iran is the reason Israel is reconsidering 16:43  |  Aounist 19/10/08
      34.   The 2002 peace plan should also be approved by Ben Jabo Ben Tize 16:44  |  Aounist 19/10/08
      35.   Resettlement. 16:48  |  Jean Van Daem 19/10/08
      36.   For every settler in the occuppied territories... 16:54  |  Lou Medel 19/10/08
      37.   hoorah! 17:01  |  Space 19/10/08
      38.   Who is expected to pay the resettlement bills? 17:02  |  Lou Medel 19/10/08
      39.   NO NO NO!!!! 17:07  |  Jean Charles Frisard 19/10/08
      40.   Europeans only made peace after democracy won 17:30  |  Jewboy 19/10/08
      41.   go for it barak, peace is the one thing that the region needs 17:32  |  ATM 19/10/08
      42.   Moraly bankrupt, and political prostitution, that`s Barak &Co 17:37  |  Simon 19/10/08
      43.   one side talk another land grab 17:40  |  ramona 19/10/08
      44.   Internal challenges 17:41  |  Brod 19/10/08
      45.   Expected - With Barak,Livni, (and Obama), Israel Is on the Ropes 17:45  |  Tod Zuckerman 19/10/08
      46.   Aounist how Israel capitulation is going to neutralize Iran 17:50  |  Simon 19/10/08
      47.   Good for Barak, it`s about time... - 2nd try 18:17  |  BBSNews 19/10/08
      48.   Better than late than never? 18:31  |  Leon 19/10/08
      49.   Comprehensive peace is best. The Saudi plan is great for all ... 18:36  |  Shaolm 19/10/08
      50.   NO OTHER WAY AROUND 18:42  |  indrajaya 19/10/08
      51.   Ofer and "History" 18:45  |  Nahman Umani 19/10/08
      52.   Brod, do you something a little less mythical? 18:48  |  BBSNews 19/10/08
      53.   Walk the Walk 18:48  |  Baz Mann 19/10/08
      54.   Arab leaders... 18:52  |  Che 19/10/08
      55.   What good is any plan that destroys Israel? 18:53  |  Conroy 19/10/08
      56.   Lou, Israel can pay for it... 18:58  |  BBSNews 19/10/08
      57.   It`s such a good deal that even Natallie likes it 20:01  |  x-ray 19/10/08
      58.   To #5 20:12  |  Cromagnon 19/10/08
      59.   Israel? Or Jewishland? 20:15  |  Cromagnon 19/10/08
      60.   we know what Israel will give but what will it get in return? 20:59  |  zionist forever 19/10/08
      61.   Barak is not a leader 21:00  |  marco 19/10/08
      62.   Playing regional power politics 21:19  |  Bronxite10 19/10/08
      63.   #6 - Giving back of land 21:21  |  ZS 19/10/08
      64.   Whatever Israel Decides... 21:48  |  Yosemite 19/10/08
      65.   barak at work if you cant make a small mess 22:15  |  victor hardman 19/10/08
      66.   "an empty political gesture" 22:29  |  Roo 19/10/08
      67.   # 55 conroy 22:37  |  Axel 19/10/08
      68.   Obama`s about to become President 22:41  |  Colin Wright 19/10/08
      69.   #63 zs and ignorance there is no land to give back 23:01  |  victor hardman 19/10/08
      70.   Israel is NOT giving serious thought to surrender 23:18  |  Arie 19/10/08
      71.   INDRAJAYA YES THERE IS,HAMAS/IRAN COULD ACCEPT PEACE 00:27  |  PETER SM 20/10/08
      72.   MICHAEL"YAWN"wake me when the intelligencia starts looking 00:33  |  PETER SM 20/10/08
      73.   #69 paul harris/victor hardman/Devalera et al 00:38  |  Labhras 20/10/08
      74.   I hate to admit this but it`s their ticket to ride 00:44  |  Dutch 20/10/08
      75.   #19, MICHAEL JACOBS, lives in the past 00:51  |  VIPER 20/10/08
      76.   #47, BBS news, do you believe this 00:54  |  VIPER 20/10/08
      77.   ISRAELS last chance 00:57  |  VIPER 20/10/08
      78.   Labhras on "wakey wakey"... 01:01  |  BBSNews 20/10/08
      79.   #12 Arabs would win a war against Israel? Let me laugh... 01:24  |  Tsssk 20/10/08
      80.   It is about time 01:50  |  Mark Lincoln 20/10/08
      81.   jihad or just a place to live? 02:40  |  Bronxite10 20/10/08
      82.   Mark Lincoln, great post... 03:21  |  BBSNews 20/10/08
      83.   The Arab regimes can only deliver Peace on Paper. 03:26  |  Akram Zekaria 20/10/08
      84.   Viper on Barak`s Saudi Plan endorsement... 03:40  |  BBSNews 20/10/08
      85.   The Saudi Plan is Disingenuous-The Saudi Leaders are Disingenuous 04:34  |  NoToTyrants 20/10/08
      86.   Why the Saudi plan isn`t a bad path for Israel. 04:39  |  Fortuna Benmayor 20/10/08
      87.   IS ANYONE HERE INTERESTED IN PEACE, or ...? 04:55  |  Cromagnon 20/10/08
      88.   80# Mr Lincoln G-d might have created you on his own image 05:06  |  Akram Zekaria 20/10/08
      89.   The plan is more than six years-old Benmayer... 05:41  |  BBSNews 20/10/08
      90.   Cromagnon on peace... HT 5:55 05:56  |  BBSNews 20/10/08
      91.   #81 It appears to have escaped your attention, Bronxite10 05:59  |  Johnboy 20/10/08
      92.   Akram, why do I get the feeling... 06:06  |  BBSNews 20/10/08
      93.   Israel should limit to max 12 million arab refugees and keep TA 07:03  |  Dave Thistleworth 20/10/08
      94.   92# BBNews :" .I get the feeling that you will still be on this 07:48  |  Akram Zekaria 20/10/08
      95.   O.K. then let`s all fall into theTrap...... 08:09  |  Dagma 20/10/08
      96.   The Saudi plan is to save the Saudi family ! 08:21  |  Akram Zekaria 20/10/08
      97.   JOHNBOY Clinton blamed Arafat totally for the failure of peace 08:38  |  PETER SM 20/10/08
      98.   Arabs will never Change ......... 08:40  |  Dolly 20/10/08
      99.   "Hamas grip on Gaza complete" 08:51  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 20/10/08
      100.   VIPER from Australia 08:56  |  Michael Jacobs 20/10/08
      101.   move fast.... 09:05  |  ravi 20/10/08
      102.   RAVI Move fast,leave Kashmir NOW! 09:31  |  PETER SM 20/10/08
      103.   Michael Jacobs and the Romans, this is 2008... 10:02  |  BBSNews 20/10/08
      104.   the moderate Arab elements across the Middle East. 10:18  |  lady from USA 20/10/08
      105.   No withdrawal from land period 10:22  |  lady from USA 20/10/08
      106.   To the nutty "lady" from the U.S. 11:14  |  Maral 20/10/08
      107.   Cromagnon 11:30  |  lady from USA 20/10/08
      108.   UN Res 194 is the end of Israel as a Jewish state 11:36  |  Ilan 20/10/08
      109.   BBSNews 11:51  |  Michael Jacobs 20/10/08
      110.   Ooooh-lady from USA #105 12:23  |  Roo 20/10/08
      111.   Roo 12:44  |  lady from USA 20/10/08
      112.   Maral 12:57  |  lady from USA 20/10/08
      113.   This has been discounted 13:20  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 20/10/08
      114.   lady form USA-placeth not your trust in Mathew 13:40  |  Roo 20/10/08
      115.   Barak sees the ONLY light at the end of the tunnel 14:06  |  Ivar 20/10/08
      116.   99# Cipora. The Palestinians & the Don Quixote front. 14:13  |  Akram Zekaria 20/10/08
      117.   Roo again 14:27  |  lady from USA 20/10/08
      118.   lady from USA to Maral 16:50  |  Roo 20/10/08
      119.   lady from USA-Corinth and psalms 17:03  |  Roo 20/10/08
      120.   To the Jews here 17:05  |  Maral 20/10/08
      121.   #107 Lady of USA 18:38  |  Cromagnon 20/10/08
      122.   Cromagnon 18:58  |  lady from USA 20/10/08
      123.   Maral 19:06  |  lady from USA 20/10/08
      124.   Roo again 19:18  |  lady from USA 20/10/08
      125.   Roo ---- 20:03  |  lady from USA 20/10/08
      126.   #122 Lady USA 20:39  |  Cromagnon 20/10/08
      127.   lady from USA 20:58  |  Roo 20/10/08
      128.   #97 Yeah, Clinton was a paragon of honesty, right, PSM? 22:59  |  Johnboy 20/10/08
      129.   Don`t Give Up Israel`s Strategic Advantage 14:23  |  Ralph 21/10/08
      130.   Ralph, 129: blatant nonsense. Stolen land weakens security 19:32  |  Ivar 21/10/08
      131.   Consider all serious Peace Plans 20:51  |  John Isenhower 21/10/08
      132.   The Saudi Peace Plan....... 21:03  |  Dagma 21/10/08
      133.   ECCLESIASTES 1:7 river Balaam saw 00:16  |  alfred youngberg 22/10/08
      134.   Roo.----..-- 11:27  |  lady from USA 22/10/08
      135.   Cromagnon 11:28  |  lady from USA 22/10/08
      136.   Yuval Steinitz` negativism unwarranted - plan meets Israeli needs 19:54  |  Ivar 22/10/08
      137.   #135 Lady USA 00:34  |  Cromagnon 23/10/08
      138.   "Oh. I read the Holy Bible." (lady from USA) 01:17  |  zeev 23/10/08
      139.   As goes America, so goes Israel 18:27  |  Bitin Dawg 24/10/08
      140.   What is the Israeli Peace Plan? 02:17  |  Roger 26/10/08
      141.   Israeli culture of avoidance 12:59  |  MarkC 06/11/08
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