Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak agreed during a meeting Thursday in Cairo that a team of Arab League representatives will visit Israel in the coming weeks for talks on the details of the Arab peace initiative, first drafted by Saudi Arabia in 2002, and reaffirmed by the Arab League in March.
Mubarak stressed that despite the political situation in Israel, the Arab League team would not postpone the visit. The diplomatic team includes Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdelelah al-Khatib and his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Aboul Gheit.
During the two-hour session, Livni and Mubarak discussed the security situation in the Gaza Strip, arms smuggling from Sinai into Gaza through the Rafah crossing, the firing of Qassam rockets and the strengthening of Hamas.
According to Livni, "the present situation in Gaza is unacceptable," and emphasized that Israel expects the Arab world to support and legitimize the moderate sides of the Palestinian Authority, so that these moderates will have more political flexibility.
She called the meeting an historic first between Israel and representatives of the Arab League, and said that the Arab world had a major role to play in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"I do believe that the Arab world when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is important. It can support the process, it can give Israel a political horizon and it can help the Palestinians make further progress when it comes to future agreements between Israel and the Palestinians," she said.
She did not mention the territorial demands of Syria and Lebanon or the question of Palestinian refugees, which the Arab states want solved as part of their peace package.
An Arab League spokesman drew a distinction between contacts with the ministers and direct contact with the League.
"We have made clear that there are conditions for us sending a delegation to meet the Israelis," said spokesman Alaa Roushdy.
The Egyptian minister, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, said: "We do not intend to negotiate with Israel on behalf of the parties. The parties concerned are the ones who will negotiate with Israel, whether Palestinians, or Syria or Lebanon."
"But the Arab League, by giving this group a mandate, is working to set the stage, preparing the right climate.... [and] then pushing the peace process forward," he added.
Livni and Mubarak also discussed the Iranian matter as well as the diplomatic ties between Israel and Egypt. Livni said that Israel is interested in expanding and deepening the relationship between the two countries, which could be made possible by more mutual visits.
Mubarak said in response that he would encourage Egyptian ministers and officials to visit Israel.
Following her session with Mubarak, Livni met the Jordanian and Egyptian Foreign Ministers in preparation for their visit.
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Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni discussing the Arab peace initiative with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo on Thursday. (Reuters) |
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Livni is simply mad. Does she not recognize the "diplomatic formalities" such as the fact that Saudia is still in a declared state of war with Israel?
Israeli soldier, God bless you, but don't you think it high time that you actually took seriously what the Arabs say, instead of pretending they don't mean it ? Your country has paid a very high price for its refusal to believe what your enemies have continually said and written - I hope that you end the self-delusions : Oslo, Barak's midnight withdrawal, and, Gaza were all products of an "it is going to be all right no matter what the Arabs say they intend" mentality .
She continues to play with fire. She certainly has read the Saud family/Arab League (Islamo Mafia) plan. Now she invites them to dinner?? It's bad enough that Olmert flunked. Now Livni is proving she cannot even read the test. Give her a copy in Arabic, a copy in Hebrew, a copy in English--make her read it--and give her the answers!! Even a dummy (without a cheatsheet) can see this is a trap! Get leaders QUICK!!
Are you suggesting Israel should a sacificial lamb or a bridge too far ..?!. "For now talk only" Wolmert. Israel do that for long enough. Since its creation, Israel was doing two things,talk about talk and being used by every one. Arabs used Israel in every thing you can imagine. Arabs now,are trying to use Israel to supress their people. Arabs are useing Israel now to save their regimes; a risky game.Arabs,as you mentioned on your post, are useing Israel in their ancient,Sunni-Shi'ite Holy War (Saddam did that) which is older and much bitter and dangerous than their conflict with Israel. Th Bush regime has a problem now; the US is a great power; capable to solve its prolems by its own self.The US can survive the danger,Israel can not. Israel should not be in the eye of the storm, now Ronnie.Israel should keep itself from any danger zone and that is the the only way Israel can wether the storm. Israel Should Do Nothing Now. And Olmert is just the man for that.
Don't be so paranoid Sweden, no sane Israeli politician thinks that the full Palestinian right of return to 1948 borders is a realistic option for peace. Any peace agreement will involve a right of return to the new Palestinian State in Gaza and the West Bank. To the Palestinians who will shoot me down for this, you must also realize that pragmatism has to take hold over unrealistic pipe dreams, in order for us to have a better future here for all our children.
I don't understand you people and your short-sighted kneejerk reactions. Your way is the way of neverending war and conflict, a war of attrition which will eventually lead to our destruction through moral degeneracy and a grinding away of national motivation and willpower. The only long term pragmatic solution is the 2-state solution, in an agreement that will lead to the neutering of terrorist activity and an official 'end of the conflict'. Perhaps this is impossible considering the fragmentation and anarchy of the Palestinians, yet we should make every effort towards this goal, while simultaneously bolstering our defenses against the more pessimistic possibilities. Entering negotiations towards the pragmatic goal is not 'selling Israel down the river', but is instead taking steps towards the only realistic option that will save it. It isn't compromising our security, but the opposite. Do you really think that Israel is able to live by the sword forever?
Livni is meeting with the wrong people. Mubarak and king of Jordan have no credit among the Pals. You have to deal with the Pals direct and what ever the Pals agree on would be ok with the rest of the Arab world.
"demographic situation" you're so worried about?!
Is Jim Carrey between pictures ? If not, then he should star in a real life Dumb And Dumber by becoming the next Israeli PM - he can ask Jeff Daniels to be FM or DM. Man, this government is way beyond PATHETIC. Lastly, on a serious note, I pray Bibi takes over soon - all the others are awful.
....about peace and friendship with his neighbours and even compromise on himself at ALL times!!!! Please NOTE all Israel-bashers!
...so enough of the past. It is going to always be major Israeli concessions in exchange for empty promises which will be forgotten before the ink in dry. Of course, Israel will be expected to follow through on the concessions or else maybe James Baker and his thugs will be appointed Secretary of Peace. If The Israeli Media had any guts, they would raise these kinds of questions.
. . . if the Arab League accepts the fact that a negotiated peace is a two-way street. If Israel is to make concessions, then the same must be expected from the Arab side. Otherwise the process will go nowhere.
How much more cynical can the lightweights Olmert and Livni be? Anything to stay in office, including desperate "peace talks" putting Israel in a bad and weak position based on an unacceptable Saudi " plan" They have no shame. They need to be removed forcibly if they don't go of their own.
But who will trust who first? For me the Charter has to go along with the idea that there are many groups in the PA instead of one central authority. israel needs one group only to deal with.The government of the PA and they have to take responsibility
Shame on the right-wing Jews who have replied to this article. You don't want peace..you just want land. Dont the Jews have the right to finally live in peace with their neighbors? Who cares about this stupid land deed you believe was given by God. What good is land if your children live in fear?
has dealt a death blow to process of peace ,
The Thursday protest in light of Winograde report has effectively , officially fired him out , Since Thursday , this Gov't has been ousted with ot kalon , with boshet panim ,
from Syria and not from Lebanon ,
You are part of the problem and not part of the solution. Sadat would be proud of them right now. This was his greatest hope.
Since these are exploratory talks, it cannot hurt. Real peace talks, on a bilateral basis, can only be with all elements of the "National" Palestinian groups, Syria, and Lebanon. If anyone is left out on the Palestinian side, there will be no peace agreement. Perhaps some long term truce might be arranged with the more militant groups?
We will not surrender to the Saudi destruction plan. Let them all stay home!
Dark Forces? Come on bro, seriously, you need to lighten up and take this whole situation in stride. How could you say that there is no divide between different Muslim ideologies when they are killing eachother for that reason alone? Anyway, as others have said, talks don't cost anything. I like this piecemeal approach towards peace as opposed to the grandiose methods of the 80s and 90s.
Israel will become more Arab. Arabia will become more Jewish. Homeostatsis is always the ideal environment. That's what we have over here in the USA. Everyone is a little Latino, White, Black, and Asian. Everyone a little Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Buddhist. A balance is always possible as long as people are free and the hate mongers suppressed. Hanoi Dane Duke, Pizza Face Ayman, and Nasrallah must be seething in anger. As far as Hamas is concerned, the mask is off as of yesterday. No Arab in their right mind wants to die for some gang of thugs that purposely endanger small children or fight anymore with Jews when the rewards of coexistence are so good and awesome. Can you imagine what good Arabs and Jews could do for the world if all those brains and wealth were used to help rather than hurt folks?
There's always time to klompf each other over the head. Drinking tea's nice too.
Let it happend and then only we can say about the directions.........I see it as some light other side of tunnal
The worst that can happen is that nothing will change. The best that can happen, is that a good peace initiative could develop from it.
I would think the Saudis use the Egyptians to send their message.The Saudis are at the centre of their sunni religious frame and although it was their peace initiative they will play the game a bit more discreet.Egypt already made peace so its more open and has less to lose with the muslim community. The road is not going to be easy and Israel will need friends but a bid for peace by the Saudis will help it allay the momentum of Iran and the shiites. I think America is with the Saudis on this and is looking for a comprehensive solution to bring some positive news for any kind of Bush legacy while the Saudis want to keep any Iranian momentum from growing through the Shiites in the Gulf.A Peace plan will do that.The problem is how will Israel be guaranteed? Livni and co need to be assured and how to get this assurance? For now its talk only.
At the slightest mention of peace or talks, you wackos come out from under some rock and start the paranoia lithanies. The one about the "Dark Forces" I had to read twice to realize it was not it was not a joke.
to save her a-- and those of her krooked korrupt kadima kompatriots. It is not going to work. We see right through this scheme of ASOS (Anything to Save Our Seats).
the only way for Israel is now talks with countries having a peace agreement with them, i.e. Egypt and Jordan. So why should Livni force on them to influe Pals to start talking as well?
Stop dictating our foreign policy from Sweden and USA. Sweden: Without negotiations, the demographic problem will make the ROR irrelevant. USA: what's with the "Dark Forces" stuff. Been watching to many Star Wars" Movies?
I cannot understand why people are saying this is a bad thing! Nothing is being "forced" on Israel. How could the Arab League force anything? Israel has been in a 60-year-long staring match with the Arab League, and now, finally, they are blinking. Israel may well decide that it doesn't want to agree to their terms, and that is Israel's right, but the fact that they are visiting Israel and negotiating is big in and of itself.
The bottom line wont be and there will be serious repercussions.Still I would not give up on such a vision.Tread carefully Livni.
Let the Arab league reps come to ISrael. It costs nothing to talk. Them being theoir legitimizes Israels hold of the old city, otherwise they would not copme. While they are not Sadat, it is a good firt step. Remember Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. But as a safe guard, make sure no pali sympathizeer or terror groups gets to whack these delegates on Israeli soil, or it would be the death knell of the state
The Political Mad Scientist, Queen of Surrender, Mistress of Disaster, and Intern of Foreign Affairs is at it again. Her favorite experiments involve risking the lives the citizens she was hired to protect. A trail of Jewish blood leads to her door but the Arrogant & Coy manipulator is AT IT AGAIN. Her resume: -Katif Surrender -Hamas Surrender -Lebanon Surrender -Silence in the face of Hizbollah & Hamas mass aramament under UN/French & EU supervision -Seriously considering Golan Surrender -Seriously considering Saudi Surrender K O L H A K A V O D T Z I P I !!!!! (After all....Isn't that what you really want Tzip???)
If the meeting is to discuss the Saudi plan, why didn't the Saudis send a representative? Just shows how serious they are about the plan, which is more or less just a propaganda ploy. And, of course, there goes Livni, pretending she still has a job, talking about nothing with no one. Wait, Livni - Condi Rice might wander over to discuss more failed ideas. Then you can get your picture in the paper again.
Has the State of Israel accepted first in principle the plan of the Arab initiative ,as demanded by the Arab League and Saudia ,wich include a just solution to 1948 UN 194 interpreted by PLO-PA Abbas and Hamas as immigration of pals from 1948 into Israel ,
Israel should keep away from meeting with the dark forces. It is meeting like this that will make Israel being told what to do instead of the dark forces listening to what Israel wants them to do. It is time for Livni and Olmert to stop all these crap meetings. This is also a tactic of the dark forces to distract Israel's attention from focussing their eyes on the larger and more serious issues--the Ayatollahs' nukes and their intention to vaporize Israel, and the unrelenting rocket attacks at Sderot/Israel by the Ayatollahs' proxy-Hamas. Israel and America should be NOT fooled into thinking that there is a divide among Islamist-Jihadists or between Sunnis and Shiites. The fact is the dark forces all united in their evil ideology of Jihadism. They have the same dark goal of conquering and dominating the world and the same methodology in attaining their their goal.
Pal "right of return" is to be forced on the Israel,Livni colludes wth this