Arab League Summit to Discuss Withdrawal of Arab Peace Initiative for Lack of Israeli Peace Partner

Published today (updated) 25/03/2010 00:32

Bethelehem - Ma'an -

Terminating the Arab Peace Initiative will be on the Arab League summit's agenda in Libya this weekend, its secretary-general, Amr Moussa, said Wednesday.

In a statement released before traveling to Sirte, Libya, ahead of the summit, Moussa said it was futile to continue dealing with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following recent developments in Jerusalem, and that Israel's "hardline stance" would not "push" Arab League conveners into "giving up on Jerusalem."

Withdrawal from the Arab Peace Initiative will be put before conveners, with all members participating this year "without exception," Moussa said, adding that "most countries will be represented by the highest levels of leadership."

"We have been following recent developments in Palestine and Israeli practice in Jerusalem. The Arab submit will review all facts and developments and we will see what the Arab League summit will yield," Moussa said.

The initiative, launched in Beirut in 2002, proposes to normalize relations with Israel, within the context of establishing a sovereign Palestinian state on 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The decision to discuss the initiative's revocation follows a string of announcements by the Israeli government to continue settlement building and expansion in occupied East Jerusalem, including an Israeli-only unit in the flashpoint Palestinian neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Tuesday that he will participate in the Arab League summit amid what he called a crisis of confidence surrounding Israel’s plans to build new settlements in East Jerusalem, the UN reported.

“I say again, here, what I have been repeatedly saying: that settlements are illegal under international law. This must stop,” Ki-moon told journalists in New York following Israel's announcement to build in Sheikh Jarrah.

Moussa made known that US-brokered proximity talks between the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government had been derailed in early March, following the Israeli Interior Ministry's decision to build 1,600 Israeli-only homes in East Jerusalem during US Vice President Joe Biden's visit to renew stalled peace talks.

Chief PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat said Wednesday that Israel's most recent decision to build on occupied Palestinian land in Jerusalem, is damaging Israel's credibility as a serious partner for peace and are further attempts to erase the Palestinian presence in the city.

Meanwhile, White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said the US administration believes Israel's continued building in Jerusalem is destructive to the peace process, the Associated Press reported.

President Mahmoud Abbas' spokesman said Tuesday that there will be no peace or stability without a Palestinian Jerusalem, reiterating the PA's stance that the body will not enter into talks with Israel until settlement construction is brought to an end in the city.

Mousa: “Withdrawing Arab Initiative, On the Agenda Of Arab Summit”

Thursday March 25, 2010 02:09 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Arab League Secretary General, Amro Mousa, said that withdrawing the Arab peace initiative is on the agenda of the upcoming Arab League meeting in Libya.

Shortly from travelling to Tripoli on Wednesday, Mousa said that withdrawing the Arab Peace Initiative, approved by the Arab Summit in Beirut in 2002, is on the agenda of the summit.

He added that all Arab countries would, without exceptions, would be participating in the summit.

Mousa added that the stances of the Israeli occupation will not push the Arabs to abandon their right in Jerusalem, and stated that dealing with the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his government will not lead to any positive outcome.

He said that Netanyahu is approving more settlements in occupied East Jerusalem and in the West Bank, and is ongoing with the violations against the Al Aqsa Mosque and other Arab and Muslim Holy sites in Jerusalem and other parts of Palestine.

“We have been closely following the recent developments in Palestine, and the violations in Jerusalem”, Mousa said, “We will discuss these issues at the Summit, and we will present all facts and come up with the appropriate measures”.

In 2002, the Arab Countries gave Israel a golden opportunity not only to achieve peace with all Arab and Muslim nations in the region, but also of a full normalization.

They demanded Israeli to withdraw from all Arab and Palestinian territories captured in 1967, including East Jerusalem.

The demand is coherent with all related United Nations and Security Council resolutions.

Israel rejected the initiative and demanded altering it. Israel refuses any withdrawal from East Jerusalem, refuses talks on borders, and insists to keep its settlements in the occupied West Bank and in occupied East Jerusalem.