Cautious peace steps at Saudi summit
The meeting fell short of delivering the progress expected on a Saudi-led push for peace with Israel.
from the March 30, 2007 edition
Page 2 of 3
Representatives of the US, the European Union, United Nations, and Russia – who together comprise the so-called Quartet of Middle East mediators – plan to meet with various Arab states and Israel in the next few months.
But until there is significant compromise from one side or the other, the bar for success on the Saudi plan is still high.
King Abdullah called for a lifting of Israel and America's "unjust embargo" on the Palestinian territories, which would allow the "peace process to move in an atmosphere of justice away from humiliation and compulsion."
He also described the US presence in Iraq as an "illegal foreign occupation,'' unusually harsh words from a close ally that comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is increasingly decoupling its diplomatic efforts from America's.
Other steps taken at the conference included:
•Calling for a nuclear-weapon free Middle East "without double standards," a reference to Israel's suspected nuclear capacity. Members also said all countries have "the right to possess peaceful nuclear energy." Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
•Promises to establish an Arab peace and security council that would function like the United Nations Security Council.
•Helped broker an agreement, according to Prince Faisal, between the UN and Sudan to support an African Union peace-keeping force in Sudan.
But with all that, the Israel-Palestinian conflict dominated the agenda.
Faisal was even clearer in insisting that the ball is in Israel's court. "This has always been the course of Israel. Whenever the Arabs come with frank and clear-cut steps toward peace they reject it. They don't reflect the positive stance of a state that's acting in favor of peace."
Arab leaders have said they refuse to amend the Arab Peace Initiative. But many analysts say Arab and Palestinian compromise on the refugee question would be the key to hammering out any eventual agreement.
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