Jordan's king urges 'immediate' Pan-Arab peace move

[Fozzledick]

Jordan's King Abdullah II on Saturday urged an "immediate" pan-Arab move that has the aim of re-launching "serious" Arab-Israeli peace negotiations on the basis of the two-state formula.

The monarch issued the call during a meeting with six Arab foreign ministers and the Arab League Secretary General Amr Mussa, who met in Amman earlier in the day to appraise the Middle East peace process following the coming to power in Israel of a right-wing government.

"King Abdullah stressed the need for an immediate move to re-launch serious negotiations for resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state formula and in accordance with the agreed references, particularly the Arab peace initiative," a royal court statement said. "The monarch underscored the importance of the time element in the negotiation process which should unequivocally seek the implementation of the two-state solution, the establishment of comprehensive peace, regaining all Arab rights and setting up an independent Palestinian state over Palestinian soil," it added.

King Abdullah also called for coming up with a "unified Arab attitude so as to be able to speak to the world community, particularly the United States, in a single language" in compliance with the resolutions adopted at the Arab summit conference in Doha at the end of March.

Arab leaders backed anew the Arab peace plan which envisaged extending recognition by all Arab states to Israel should the latter quit all Arab territories (including East Jerusalem) occupied by it in the 1967 Six Day War.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1077741.html

Gee, what could he possibly hope to accomplish by talking with Netanyahu? :sarcasm:

[aquart]

1. I have no idea what you think your point is.

If the Arab states offer recognition, then the problem would appear to be with Hamas, wouldn't it? They are the ones refusing recognition, aren't they? They're the ones who don't believe Israel or Israelis have a right to exist...and get so terribly annoyed when the Israelis behave exactly the same toward them?

Why is it okay for Arabs to hate Jews but not all right for Jews to hate Arabs?

[Fozzledick]

2. Um, we seem to be talking past each other

I suspect we'd probably agree if we understood what the other was saying, so I'll try to clarify...

1) I think that this Jordanian proposal, like the earlier Saudi proposal it resembles, is a good thing, a step (albeit small) in the right direction, even if their opening position is far too rigid. In any case, an interesting topic for discussion.

2) My own comment was a dig at those who demonise Netanyahu as too fanatic to accept any peace settlement. While he may be too reactionary for my personal taste, I do think he'd be willing to bargain in good faith if he saw a similar willingness on the other side, and this seems to indicate that the King of Jordan agrees.

3) I agree with you (I think) that Hamas and their continuing terror campaign are the main obstacles to peace at this time. No settlement is possible while the rockets continue flying and the Palestinians are divided against each other in a de facto civil war with one faction dead-set against peace. That's why both sides have taken rigid positions for domestic political consumption rather than attempting serious negotiations.

[Name removed]

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