US dusting off old Arab Peace Proposal, ignored for 11 years

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Israel has let this proposal languish since 2002. But suddenly, a new flurry of activity, and Israel is now announcing great enthusiasm for the plan (although it's pretending that it's something new.)

JERUSALEM — The Obama administration is exploring whether a long-abandoned initiative proposed by Saudi Arabia 11 years ago could become the basis for a regional peace agreement between Israel and its neighbors, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials.

With U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry due to arrive in the region over the weekend, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has been conferring with other Arab leaders on the viability of the plan, which calls for a normalization of relations between Israel and all the Arab states in exchange for the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state.

Israeli and Palestinian officials confirmed to McClatchy that President Barack Obama raised the possibility of using the Arab Peace Initiative, as the plan was known, as a framework for an agreement when he was in the region last month.

“It was raised directly by Obama during his visit and during his closed-door discussion with the Palestinian leadership,” said a senior Palestinian official directly involved in the talks. “It was made clear to the Palestinian leadership that this would be the new direction of U.S. diplomacy in the region.”

The official said that White House officials laid the groundwork for the renewal of the Arab peace initiative two weeks before Obama’s visit to Israel and the West Bank when they spoke with Palestinian negotiators in Washington.

“They were told then that this would be the focus and that it had great potential,” said the Palestinian official, who asked not to be further identified because of the sensitivity of the talks. He said Obama, Kerry, Abbas and Palestinian negotiators Mohammed Shtayeh and Saeb Erekat discussed the topic for several hours during the president’s visit to Ramallah, where the Palestinian Authority has its headquarters.

“He asked us during that time not to take any unilateral steps in the U.N. or moves that would anger Israel,” the Palestinian official said, referring to Obama. He added that it was his understanding that Israel had agreed not to announce any new settlement construction projects for eight weeks.

“Kerry asked for a quiet time to give the new diplomacy a chance,” the official said.

The State Department is keeping quiet on precisely what Kerry will discuss with the warring parties when he arrives in Israel and the West Bank for a two-day visit, which begins Sunday and will include time in Jerusalem and Ramallah before Kerry travels to London for the G-8 summit, and then on to China, South Korea and Japan.

State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland insisted at a briefing for reporters this week that the secretary’s frequent travel to the Middle East – this will be his third trip in less than a month – wasn’t a sign of new shuttle diplomacy but rather his own communications style, and she played down the significance of Kerry’s visit, reiterating that he wasn’t going to be “putting down a plan.”

“The president, with his trip, committed very strongly that if the parties are ready to move, we are ready to help them, and that he wants Secretary Kerry to explore what’s possible,” Nuland said. “But, again, we’re not at the stage of knowing what’s possible.”

Adding to speculation that the Obama administration is pressing ahead on a Middle East peace effort is a series of White House visits over the next month by key regional leaders, including the crown prince of the United Arab Emirates, the emir of Qatar, the king of Jordan and the prime minister of Turkey.

All of those countries are deeply involved in the civil war in Syria, but White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Friday that Obama would use the visits to “discuss the complex developments in the broader Middle East, so not just Syria, but including Syria.” He said the leaders also would talk about Obama’s trip last month to the Middle East, as well as “broader developments in the Arab spring.”

The Arab Peace Initiative, which also has been referred to as the “Saudi peace plan,” was first proposed in March 2002 at a meeting of the Arab League. It stipulated that Israel withdraw from areas occupied in the 1967 Middle East War – namely the Golan Heights, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip – and allow the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state. In return, Arab nations would pledge to adopt normal relations with Israel and effectively declare the conflict over.

Ariel Sharon, then Israel’s prime minister, immediately rejected the plan. Subsequent Israeli leaders have periodically warmed to, and then rejected, the plan. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who openly opposed the plan when he was opposition leader in 2007, has since quietly voiced support for it, including in closed-door meetings with Egyptian and Jordanian officials.

Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said that the Netanyahu government “has publicly praised the Arab Peace Initiative. It’s a great improvement on previous Arab positions, and we look forward to engaging on it.”

The Institute for National Security Studies, a Tel Aviv think tank with close ties to the government, recently published an essay arguing that in light of changes in the region it could be wise for Israel to revisit the plan.

“Perhaps the Arab Peace Initiative can now afford Israel an opportunity to consolidate its Zionist vision of the secure, legitimate, democratic nation-state of the Jewish people,” said the essay, which was written by institute researcher Gilead Sher and Tel Aviv University professor Illai Alon. “It is true that the Arab initiative is in Arab interest, and otherwise would not have been proposed in the first place. However, had Israel and the international community been open to a dialogue based on the initiative at that time, it is not inconceivable that Israel’s situation today would have been more secure and stable.”

“Precisely now, in light of developments in the Arab world and the relative fluidity inherent in every revolution, the possibility of influence is greater and the price Israel will eventually have to pay to reach its national goals and attain peace with the Arab world may be lower,” the essay concluded.

Peace talks between the Israeli and Palestinian leadership have been at an impasse since September 2010, when direct talks broke down as Israel refused to extend a partial moratorium on settlement construction in the West Bank unless the Palestinian Authority recognized Israel as a Jewish state. Israeli officials have since called on the Palestinian leadership to return to the negotiating table with no preconditions, while Palestinians have refused to hold talks while settlement construction continues on the land they want earmarked for their future state.

Privately, Palestinian officials have blamed Obama for the impasse, saying he had urged them to insist on a construction moratorium and had promised to press the Israelis to agree to the condition.

“That old model of the roadmap had left both sides with a map that only had dead ends,” said a Palestinian official who ahs taken a senior role in previous talks. He asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to comment on ongoing talks. “My understanding is that Obama wanted the new push to shake things up, to offer a new, comprehensive plan instead of getting bogged down in the mud of the old talks.”

Hannah Allam and Lesley Clark of the Washington Bureau contributed.

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2013/04/05/2458046/obama-kerry-dust-off-old-arab.html#storylink=cpy

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

It's essentially the same thing that the UN resolutions say, as well as the Road Map. Why would Israel suddenly shift positions on something it's fought for the last 40+ years ?

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Here are the pertinent passages from the proposal:

1. Requests Israel to reconsider its policies and declare that a just peace is its strategic option as well.

2. Further calls upon Israel to affirm:

I- Full Israeli withdrawal from all the territories occupied since 1967, including the Syrian Golan Heights, to the June 4, 1967 lines as well as the remaining occupied Lebanese territories in the south of Lebanon.

II- Achievement of a just solution to the Palestinian refugee problem to be agreed upon in accordance with U.N. General Assembly Resolution 194.

III- The acceptance of the establishment of a sovereign independent Palestinian state on the Palestinian territories occupied since June 4, 1967 in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

3. Consequently, the Arab countries affirm the following:

I- Consider the Arab-Israeli conflict ended, and enter into a peace agreement with Israel, and provide security for all the states of the region.

II- Establish normal relations with Israel in the context of this comprehensive peace.

4. Assures the rejection of all forms of Palestinian patriation which conflict with the special circumstances of the Arab host countries.

5. Calls upon the government of Israel and all Israelis to accept this initiative in order to safeguard the prospects for peace and stop the further shedding of blood, enabling the Arab countries and Israel to live in peace and good neighbourliness and provide future generations with security, stability and prosperity.

6. Invites the international community and all countries and organisations to support this initiative.

7. Requests the chairman of the summit to form a special committee composed of some of its concerned member states and the secretary general of the League of Arab States to pursue the necessary contacts to gain support for this initiative at all levels, particularly from the United Nations, the Security Council, the United States of America, the Russian Federation, the Muslim states and the European Union.

For purposes of comparison, the following is an earlier draft discussed by Arab foreign ministers on 25 March, 2002, in advance of the summit:

The Council of the Arab League, which convenes at the level of a summit on March 27-28, 2002 in Beirut, affirms the Arab position that achieving just and comprehensive peace is a strategic choice and goal for the Arab states.

After the Council heard the statement of Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz in which he called for the establishment of normal relations in the context of a comprehensive peace with Israel, and that Israel declares its readiness to withdraw from the occupied Arab territories in compliance with United Nations resolutions 242 and 338 and Security Council resolution 1397, enhanced by the Madrid conference and the land-for-peace principle, and the acceptance of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state with al-Quds al-Sharif as its capital, the Council calls on the Israeli government to review its policy and to resort to peace while declaring that just peace is its strategic option.

The Council also calls on Israel to assert the following:

Complete withdrawal from the Arab territories occupied since 1967, including full withdrawal from the occupied Syrian Golan Heights and the remaining occupied parts of south Lebanon to the June 4, 1967 lines.

To accept to find an agreed, just solution to the problem of Palestinian refugees in conformity with Resolution 194.

To accept an independent and sovereign Palestinian state on the Palestinian lands occupied since June 4, 1967 in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and with Jerusalem (al-Quds al-Sharif) as its capital in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1397.

In return, the Arab states assert the following:

To consider the Arab-Israeli conflict over and to enter into a peace treaty with Israel to consolidate this.

To achieve comprehensive peace for all the states of the region.

To establish normal relations within the context of comprehensive peace with Israel.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

And other related headlines:

'US softening opposition to Fatah-Hamas unity'

The US appears to have softened its opposition to unity between Fatah and Hamas, a top Fatah official in the West Bank said Monday.

Azzam al-Ahmed, a member of the Fatah Central Committee and a senior adviser to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, said that US opposition to the unity idea was “less strong.”

Ahmed’s comments came hours after Abbas met in Ramallah with US Secretary of State John Kerry to discuss American efforts to revive the stalled peace process with Israel.

Ahmed said that Abbas would meet with Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal in Doha, Qatar, later this week to discuss the formation of a Palestinian unity government.

Abbas arrived in Doha on Monday to participate in an Arab League meeting on the peace process.

....

Abbas and Kerry agreed during the meeting that the two parties would refrain from publicly commenting on the outcome of their discussions.

One official, however, confirmed that Abbas had asked that parts of Area C in the West Bank be transferred to PA control to pave the way for the resumption of the peace talks with Israel.

The official also said that Abbas’s main goal now was to secure the release of a significant number of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.

...

http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/PA-official-US-softening-opposition-to-Fatah-Hamas-unity-309120

Something's on the front burner....

[JstaRebel 48]

It's essentially the same thing that the UN resolutions say, as well as the Road Map. Why would Israel suddenly shift positions on something it's fought for the last 40+ years ?

I've always stated that this illegal occupation has gone on way too long, and that Israel needs to try a different approach becasue as you posted, "something it's fought for the last 40+ years" and this hasn't worked or is it going to. World opinion regarding Israel is changing rapidly, and people all over the world are sick of Israel playing the "genocide card", the "god's chosen people card", and especially the "anti-semitic card". People are just not buying these reasons to stay silent or neutral regarding Israel's continued blatent disregard for international law, and the oppression of the Palestinian people any longer. Let's hope that something changes for the better in this attempt at having Israel do what is right.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

I've always stated that this illegal occupation has gone on way too long, and that Israel needs to try a different approach becasue as you posted, "something it's fought for the last 40+ years" and this hasn't worked or is it going to. World opinion regarding Israel is changing rapidly, and people all over the world are sick of Israel playing the "genocide card", the "god's chosen people card", and especially the "anti-semitic card". People are just not buying these reasons to stay silent or neutral regarding Israel's continued blatent disregard for international law, and the oppression of the Palestinian people any longer. Let's hope that something changes for the better in this attempt at having Israel do what is right.

Something is up. Kerry apparently asked for "modifications" to the wording of the document, which Palestinian sources say they refused. He's been very busy these past weeks shuttling back and forth between Jerusalem and Ramallah and Jordan. And there's supposed to be a big powwow over it at the upcoming Arab League meeting.

They say a picture tells a thousand words.

[JstaRebel 48]

Something is up. Kerry apparently asked for "modifications" to the wording of the document, which Palestinian sources say they refused. He's been very busy these past weeks shuttling back and forth between Jerusalem and Ramallah and Jordan. And there's supposed to be a big powwow over it at the upcoming Arab League meeting.

They say a picture tells a thousand words.

Yeah.. Check the look of disgust on Kerry's face and I have to laugh at the old guy taking a snooze... They take John Kerry pretty seriously it looks like...

I do hope that something good happens from this!

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Yeah.. Check the look of disgust on Kerry's face and I have to laugh at the old guy taking a snooze... They take John Kerry pretty seriously it looks like...

I do hope that something good happens from this!

The old guy is Shimon Peres.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

This is the most telegraphed negotiation I have ever seen. It appears both Obama and Netanyahu are looking to establish a legacy that doesn't end in nuclear conflict. Perhaps the rule, that when the only option is insanity, sane minds must look for another solution, has been invoked.

As I said a few months ago, look for Turkey to become the final arbitrator for an overall solution to the Mideast problem.

[JstaRebel 48]

This is the most telegraphed negotiation I have ever seen. It appears both Obama and Netanyahu are looking to establish a legacy that doesn't end in nuclear conflict. Perhaps the rule, that when the only option is insanity, sane minds must look for another solution, has been invoked.

As I said a few months ago, look for Turkey to become the final arbitrator for an overall solution to the Mideast problem.

I could see Turkey stepping in as the arbitrator for sure. I also hope "sane minds" prevail..

[Caryh 5,206]

Israel always dusts off or starts a new plan every time the heat gets turned on. When the heat is off, it will go back on a shelf to collect dust again.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Israel always dusts off or starts a new plan every time the heat gets turned on. When the heat is off, it will go back on a shelf to collect dust again.

It wasn't Israel that suddenly pulled this plan out of the cobwebs - it was the US, via Kerry (in a rather bizarre move.)

However, the subsequent call to change some of the parameters obviously comes from Israel.

[Caryh 5,206]

It wasn't Israel that suddenly pulled this plan out of the cobwebs - it was the US, via Kerry (in a rather bizarre move.)

However, the subsequent call to change some of the parameters obviously comes from Israel.

OK so its USA heat on Israel again. Just demand changes the other side won't accept and it will go away after a while. I highly doubt Israel really sees a need to make peace, and the Palestinian leadership rarely seem to really want it either. If both sides were motivated towards a real peace, it would have happened by now.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

OK so its USA heat on Israel again. Just demand changes the other side won't accept and it will go away after a while. I highly doubt Israel really sees a need to make peace, and the Palestinian leadership rarely seem to really want it either. If both sides were motivated towards a real peace, it would have happened by now.

Israel does have a narrow window to find a permanent solution to the Palestinian problem. Iran will be a nuclear power, and by proxy, so will Hezbollah. That is inevitable. When that happens, Israel will no longer have that unique distinction among its neighbors. There is a reason the US did not invade Pakistan to clean out the Taliban, like they did in Afghanistan. One you have a nuke, you no longer have to sit at the kiddie table on holidays.

Edited April 9, 2013 by The Patriot

[Caryh 5,206]

Israel does have a narrow window to find a permanent solution to the Palestinian problem. Iran will be a nuclear power, and by proxy, so will Hezbollah. That is inevitable. When that happens, Israel will no longer have that unique distinction among its neighbors. There is a reason the US did not invade Pakistan to clean out the Taliban, like they did in Afghanistan. One you have a nuke, you no longer have to sit at the kiddie table on holidays.

And you really think Israel coming to an agreement with Palestinians would change Hezbollah's desire from wiping out Israel? Or Iran's desire to get the infidels out of the middle east?