Solana urges Arabs to be flexible in peace offer to Israel

EU foreign policy chief calls Arab initiative 'a general concept that has to be developed,' urges Arabs and Israel to deal with plan as starting point in negotiations rather than take-it-or-leave-it proposal

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana on Wednesday urged Arab states to be flexible in their land-for-peace offer to Israel, warning that without a solution to the conflict the Mideast is at risk of "missing the train of human and economic development."

At an Arab summit in the Saudi capital, Solana called for an end to Israel's occupation of lands seized in the 1967 Mideast war — a key demand in an Arab peace plan that the two-day gathering intends to relaunch.

Saudi foreign minister says that Israel will put its fate in the hands of war mongers if it turns down peace initiative; Both sides must want peace equally, he says Full story

But he called the Arab initiative "a general concept that has to be developed." He urged the Arabs and Israel to deal with the plan as a starting point in negotiations rather than a take-it-or-leave-it proposal.

"The important thing is to get the negotiations started. In any negotiations there are changes in positions, because negotiations are like that," Solana told reporters on the sidelines of the summit.

The Arab peace initiative calls for Israel to return occupied lands and reach a settlement with the Palestinians that allows for a Palestinian capital in east Jerusalem and a "fair settlement" to the refugees issue. In return, Arab nations would sign a comprehensive peace with Israel.

Israel rejected the plan when it was first launched by a 2002 Arab summit, but it has now said it could accept it if there were some changes. The U.S. and EU are trying to secure a resumption of Arab-Israeli peace talks on the basis on the plan.

Arab leaders have resisted Israeli calls for amendments in the plan, but they will create "working groups" to discuss it with the United States, Europe and United Nations — and perhaps Israel. Moderate Arab leaders hope the smaller talks will give them leeway to sell the plan as a starting point for talks.

Solana said he expected two or three working groups to be formed to make the initiative "more operational in order to move the process forward."

In a written message to the Arab leaders gathered in Riyadh, Solana said the European Union hopes "all the members of the Arab League will take their responsibilities and contribute to the success of this enterprise."

"Failure to rise to today's challenges will put the Middle East risk of missing the train of human and economic development," he said in the message.

Before arriving in Riyadh, Solana expressed optimism that the relaunched initiative could reinvigorate the Mideast peace process.

Solana's presence at the Arab League summit was designed to highlight the European Union's support for the peace initiative, officials said. It will also demonstrate the bloc's backing for Saudi Arabia's efforts to resolve a number of regional crises, including the political impasse in Lebanon and efforts to bring Iran's nuclear program under international supervision.

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Arabs decide to revive peace plan

Leaders meeting in Riyadh unanimously decide to revive initiative adopted at Beirut summit. Meanwhile, Defense Minister Peretz suggests Israel propose its own peace initiative in Riyadh

Ronny Sofer and agencies

Arab League leaders, meeting in Riyadh, decided on Wednesday evening to revive the peace initiative adopted at the Beirut summit five years ago, without changing its clauses.

During the summit, Saudi King Abdullah said that the boycott on the Palestinian Authority must be lifted. The king called on the Arab leaders who took part in the summit to overcome their disagreements and reach unity regarding the Arab stance on Iraq and Lebanon and the Palestinian issue.

Many guest from across the world are taking part in the Saudi summit, including EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who called on the Arabs to be flexible and said that the peace initiative was the basis for negotiations in the region.

Peretz: Israel should propose its own peace plan

Defense Minister Amir Peretz reiterated Wednesday that the Saudi initiative should be seen as a base for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.

Peretz said, however, that certain clauses in the initiative, such as the right of return for Palestinian refugees, constitute a red-line which cannot be accepted. He suggested instead that Israel to propose its own peace initiative at the Arab League summit in Riyadh.

"We must show courage and be willing to negotiate a permanent agreement. This will completely change the rules of the game and offer the Palestinians a political horizon which will neutralize extremist Arab figures, it will allow moderates to unite and reach an understanding with Israel. We must not forget that they have an interest to keep radical forces from leading the Arab world," said Peretz.

Peretz, speaking at conference marking 40 years since the Six Day War, also said that the 1967 borders are the slide rule according to which Israel will align itself.

"We should, today with the perspective of 40 years time, do a serious examination and ask ourselves whether the celebrated victory of 1967 was a blessing or a curse.

Their interest is not only in relations with Israel, they have an additional interest, just as important, and that is the threat they sense from Iran. And here we can use this as leverage for dialogue. "

Family in Gaza follows reports from Riyadh (Photo: Reuters)

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni welcomed the recent developments in the region.

In a meeting with Foreign Ministry workers in order to conclude US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's visit to the region, Livni said that "in spite of the complex diplomatic situation, we found a common denominator reflecting the aspiration to advance the diplomatic process, while maintaining Israel's essential interests.

"There are risks and disappointments here, particularly in terms of the Palestinian side's conduct, but this is the important agreement from Rice's visit: Launching a dialogue on the essence of the Palestinian state, subject to the Road Map stages."

"Lacking a possibility to advance the permanent agreement under the existing conditions," Livni continued, "We located the common denominator for us, the Palestinians, the moderates in the Arab world and the international community – one that also advances Israel's essential interests.

"In any scenario, the results of the process should be an independent Palestinian state which does not endanger Israel. The discussion of the characteristics of the Palestinian state now advances the chance to reach an agreement and gives Israel an opportunity… And all this, without conceding the demand to implement all stages of the Road Map," the foreign minister said.

Vice Premier Shimon Peres also addressed the peace plan Wednesday afternoon, saying that "there are disagreements between us. The question is how to overcome them – through dictations and force, or negotiations?

"They will come with their stances and we will come with ours. We will discuss them and reach an agreement, like we did with Egypt and Jordan," he said.

In Jerusalem, Peace Now activists demonstrated outside the residence of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, demanding that Israel accepts the Arab initiative. The activists waved the flags of the 22 Arab countries taking part in the summit, including Syria, Lebanon and Iraq.

Hanan Greenberg contributed to the report

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