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Last update - 14:22 15/06/2008 Analysis / Arab world split on Israel presence at Med summit By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: France, Mediterranean Union  Israel's participation in a regional conference in Paris next month is creating differences of opinion among Arab leaders about whether to attend the summit. The meeting of the proposed Mediterranean Union is scheduled for July 13, and environmental issues - pollution of the Mediterranean, solar energy advances and projects dealing with water conservation and civil defense - are to top the agenda. Algeria and Lebanon have already announced that they will not attend because of Israel's participation in the forum, and Libya is also skipping the meeting apparently because its leader Moammar Gadhafi sees his country as a leader among the African Union and the Arab League. Advertisement The invitation for Syria to attend is especially significant because, on one hand, it does not see itself attending a summit alongside Israel and, on the other, the meeting will bestow upon Syria the international legitimization it desperately seeks. Arab states had previously expressed concern that joining the union might imply a normalization of their relations with Israel. And opposition sources in Egypt have said that the union will be subservient to Israel. The Mediterranean Union was originally proposed by France as a way of boosting ties with the European Union's southern neighbors and improving trade and security cooperation. Morocco, Tunisia, Mauritania and the Palestinian Authority support the union's creation. Ofer Bronstein, an Israeli assistant to the Spanish Foreign Minister, said that Spain also supports the union's creation because it would improve relations between countries on both sides of the Mediterranean. Bronstein added that North African countries, especially Morocco, are also eager to eventually discuss the subject of immigration and migrant workers. Related articles: Arab states leery of Israel's entry into Mediterranean Union Mubarak stays away from Med union summit to shun Assad Despite Egypt snub, Syria is returning to the Arab fold Bookmark to del.icio.us   Religious pressure Tel Aviv supermarket chain agrees gradual Shabbat closure. Overgenerous diplomacy UN envoy: Israel has given Syria a 'huge gift' for free.   1.   This is yet another illustration of the fact that the Arabs 14:25  |  Nurit 15/06/08   2.   Heaven forbid a normalization of ties 16:01  |  jeff 15/06/08   3.   The Med Summit will go ahead, with or without. 16:29  |  Stephen. 15/06/08   4.   Erope must chose between 300M market and little Israel 17:14  |  Moise 15/06/08   5.   #4 Moise 17:45  |  Jeff 15/06/08   6.   Not only the Med Summit will go ahead, but humanity will continue 17:51  |  Roger 15/06/08   7.   #4, I`d take Israeli technology and culture over Arab contributio 18:07  |  David 15/06/08   8.   They are not split , they are all against it , some are forced 18:52  |  Gisele 15/06/08   9.   Get real people, Israel live thanks to US and Europe Donations 18:53  |  Moise 15/06/08   10.   Poor Moise is confused 19:09  |  x-ray 15/06/08   11.   Gisele from Beirut you only speak for yourself 22:24  |  Realist 15/06/08   12.   the arab world is not split on Israel`s presence;it`s just that 06:13  |  glenna 18/06/08

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