Barak: Israel seriously considering Saudi peace plan

Israeli leaders are seriously considering a dormant Saudi plan offering a comprehensive peace between Israel and the Arab world in exchange for lands captured during the 1967 war, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said yesterday.

Barak said it may be time to pursue an overall peace deal for the region since individual negotiations with Syria and the Palestinians have made little progress.

Barak said he has discussed the Saudi plan with prime minister-designate Tzipi Livni, and that Israel is considering a response. Saudi Arabia first proposed the peace initiative in 2002, offering pan-Arab recognition of Israel in exchange for Israel's withdrawal to the pre-1967 border.

The 22-member Arab League endorsed the plan last year. The Israeli government has in the past described the plan as a good basis for discussion, but expressed some reservations.

There is definitely room to introduce a comprehensive Israeli plan to counter the Saudi plan that would be the basis for a discussion on overall regional peace, Barak told Army Radio.

He noted the deep, joint interest with moderate Arab leaders in containing Iran's nuclear ambitions and limiting the influence of Hezbollah and Hamas.

Analyst Ghassan Khatib, a former Palestinian minister, 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.

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

Israel also objects to language that appears to endorse a large-scale return of Palestinian refugees to Israel, as this would destroy the country's Jewish character.

President Shimon Peres proposed putting Israel's various peace talks on one track last month at the United Nations, calling on Saudi King Abdullah to further his initiative.

He has since been pushing the idea in meetings with Israeli, Arab and Western officials, his office said.

In yesterday's interview, Barak said he was in full agreement with Peres.

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

Livni's office refused to comment on her talks with Barak.

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.