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Page last updated
April 15, 2007
Understanding the conflict
Saudi Peace Plan
The Middle East peace initiative floated by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah in 2002 was revived at the Arab League Summit in Algiers in late March 2007. The Middle East peace initiative floated by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah in 2002 was revived at the Arab League Summit in Algiers in late March 2007. The plan offers Israel recognition and permanent peace with all Arab countries in return for Israeli withdrawal from lands captured in the 1967 Six Day War. It also calls for setting up a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital and a just solution to the issue of Palestinian refugees.
Jewish Voice for Peace in the States devoted some space to analysing this important development:
* Opportunity Knocks: The Arab League Renews Its Peace Plan Offer
* Jewish Voice for Peace Welcomes the Saudi Peace Initiative, Calls On US And Israel to Accept the Plan As A Basis For Talks
* American Jewish group supports Arab peace initiativeMJ Rosenberg in his weekly opinion column for the Israel Policy Forum (6 April 2007) strongly urged Israel to respond positively to this offer.
The Israeli Regional Peace Movement is a new group that has come together in Israel to promote the Arab League offer among Israelis.
In Initiative versus principle, Al Ahram 29th March- 4th April 2007, Balad party Knesset member Azmi Bishara takes a critical look at the plan and the politics around it: 'If Israel rejects the best Arab position, perhaps the Arabs should revert to maximal demands and ask Israel to propose a plan.'
In Ha'aretz, 10th April 2007, Gideon Levy concludes from Israel's reaction to the plan that "Israel Doesn't Want Peace."
