Saudis to announce Thursday whether coming to summit <br><br> - Haaretz

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Mon., November 19, 2007 Kislev 9, 5768

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		Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah waiting for fellow heads of state to arrive in Riyadh for an OPEC summit on Saturday. (AP)

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Last update - 13:37 18/11/2007

Saudis to announce Thursday whether coming to summit

By Avi Issacharoff, Aluf Benn and Barak Ravid

Tags: Palestinians, Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia will announce during an Arab League meeting on Thursday whether or not it will attend the upcoming Mideast peace conference scheduled for November 27 in Annapolis, Maryland.

Senior Palestinian sources made this announcement Saturday following a meeting between Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah on Friday.

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audi Arabia is expecting further developments on the negotiations over the summit's final statement, the sources said. It is hoping the final statement will include Israeli agreement to the principles put forth in the Saudi-sponsored Arab League proposal, and a promise to implement the first stage of the road map.

The Palestinian officials said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called senior Saudi officials and said there has been significant progress in talks with Israel about the document.

However, Saudi Arabia will decide whether to participate in the summit - as part of an Arab League delegation or independently - only during the meeting of Arab League foreign ministers on Thursday.

Arab sources say that the Saudis are inclined against participation, given Israel's intransigence. Unless Riyadh changes its stance, countries including Syria are also unlikely to participate.

However, the PA intends to attend the summit regardless of the Arab League's position, so that the international media does not portray it as an obstacle to peace.

Meanwhile, in Israel, preparations for the summit are peaking, and the cabinet is scheduled to hold a detailed discussion on the peace process. The cabinet also is expected to approve a series of goodwill gestures for the Palestinians, primarily the release of 450 prisoners, bolstering Israel's commitment to freeze settlement activity and evacuate illegal outposts.

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1.	One way or another	07:26	\|	Khalil Ishabib	18/11/07

2.	Arabs League should be worry for disaster that coming to Pakistan	07:37	\|	e.m	18/11/07

3.	Arabs League should be worry for disaster that coming to Pakistan	07:37	\|	e.m	18/11/07

4.	A Shame	08:30	\|	Mark of Lewiston	18/11/07

5.	Palestinian Authority to Attend Summitt	08:34	\|	Johnny Weintraub	18/11/07

6.	Israel and Palestinians Only	08:51	\|	Khaled	18/11/07

7.	dont do me any favors	08:51	\|	vik	18/11/07

8.	Israel seeking peace with Christian Zionists at Annapolis?	08:52	\|	Ivar	18/11/07

9.	Response To No. 1	09:38	\|	Khaled	18/11/07

10.	#1	11:10	\|	danny	18/11/07

11.	The Saudis afraid of peace....???	11:28	\|	Swiss (Dino)	18/11/07

12.	Bush has until thursday	13:13	\|	Antoinne	18/11/07

13.	The PA will cordinate every step with the Saudis	13:14	\|	Mahmoud	18/11/07

14.	How to gobble up the Carved "Turkey ",Israel	14:47	\|	Hilda	18/11/07

15.	How rto gobble up the carved "turkey" Israel	14:57	\|	Hilda	18/11/07

16.	Who Cares if Sauds come or not.....	23:19	\|	Dagma	18/11/07

17.	The Wahhabhists and Terrorisms	02:34	\|	Brod	19/11/07

18.	Ivar #8	17:19	\|	Brod	19/11/07

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