Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., March 30, 2008 Adar2 24, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:44 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Arab foreign ministers meet to re-endorse 2002 Saudi peace plan By Haaretz Correspondent and News Agencies , By Yoav Stern Arab foreign ministers yesterday re-endorsed the 2002 Saudi initiative which promises Arab recognition of Israel should it withdraw in full from the territories captured in the 1967 Six-Day War. The proposal was ratified in Damascus during the preparation for tomorrow's Arab summit, despite proposals by some Arab elements to withdraw or modify the initiative. Advertisement Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem said prior to the ratification, that Israel must show a commitment to the peace process if Damascus were to re-evaluate its support of the Arab peace initiative. Moallem said that due to Israel's reluctance to take diplomatic steps toward peace, Syria proposed to withdraw the initiative if Israel rejects it. He said this was behind the Arab League members' decision in Cairo last month to hinge the continuation of the Saudi initiative on Israeli cooperation. The summit has been riven by deep divisions between Arab leaders, mainly over Syrian meddling in Lebanese affairs. Lebanon has announced it was boycotting the summit, while Egypt and Saudi Arabia said they would send only low-level officials to the gathering in a snub to Syria. During his address, Moallem dismissed accusations that Syria was prolonging the deadlock in Beirut. The Lebanese majority coalition, in a statement addressed to the summit, called on the Arab states to put pressure on Syria to establish diplomatic ties with Beirut and abandon its attempts to regain its full control of Lebanon. "Syria wants a stable, sovereign Lebanon. Anyone who thinks otherwise is mistaken. We are the first to be hurt from a worsening situation in Lebanon and we will be the first to benefit from stability," Moallem said. He denied claims that Syria is preventing a resolution to the crisis, saying that all Arab states with a vested interest in Lebanon should make an effort to resolve the crisis, in particular Saudi Arabia. Amr Musa, the Arab League's secretary general, recently raised the possibility of withdrawing the Arab peace blueprint at the Damascus summit if Israel continued to ignore it. Earlier yesterday, an Amman-based coalition of 130 Arab political parties sent a memorandum to the Damascus summit urging Arab leaders to "withdraw" the peace initiative which envisaged extending recognition to Israel by all Arab states if it pulled out from all Arab lands it occupied in 1967 Six-Day War, including East Jerusalem. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Terror online Israel posts clips on YouTube of J'lem yeshiva terror attack. Remembering Gaza Knesset approves bill to commemorate the Jewish settlements of Gush Katif.

Today Online Dutch MP's anti-Islam film shows clerics' calls to behead Jews Responses: 564 Hamas gets Iranian plans for improved Qassams Responses: 144 Avigdor Lieberman: Israel's minorities must be loyal to the Jewish state Responses: 117 UN: Ex-Lebanon PM Hariri killed by criminal network Responses: 107 Ex-Muslim says converted to Christianity due to Islam's anti-Zionism Responses: 156 More Headlines 02:11 Top official: PM has communicated with Assad to test his desire for peace 01:19 Palestinians: IDF kills 2 Gazans; 4 others wounded in IAF strike 00:35 Rice arrives in Israel, urges improvements in West Bank life 22:16 At Syria summit, Abbas calls for Arab troops in Palestinian territories 01:04 Anti-Syrian protesters march in Beirut in wake of Arab summit 01:37 UN officials: Syria still suspected in Lebanese PM murder case 22:24 Meshal: Shalit talks deadlocked due to Israeli intransigence 10:53 Obama likens his foreign policy to that of Bush Sr., JFK, Reagan 20:13 Israeli Arabs mark 32nd annual Land Day with Wadi Ara, Negev protests 20:47 3-year-old boy critically injured as father runs him over 14:06 Security guard, 62, found dead in Tel Aviv; police suspect murder 09:08 Avram Grant: the man the Israeli media loves to hate 12:22 Jewish detractor of Putin disappears from Berlin home Previous Editions Select Day 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar 17 mar 16 mar

Special Offers Advertisement NEW! Dan Boutique Jerusalem Hotel Hip Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. Attractive Introductory Rates Pardes Institute Summer Sessions Study Jewish texts and issues in Jerusalem, Co-ed, All Levels FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. 7589 rockets fired so far HELP US TO HELP THEM Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved