Arab Peace Initiative Approval Momentous Opportunity for US and Israel

NEW YORK

"The unanimous approval of the Arab Peace Initiative by leaders of 22 Arab states in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia yesterday provides Israel and the United States with a momentous opportunity to help bring peace and stability to the Middle East and long-term security to Israel," declared Israel Policy Forum (IPF) president Seymour D. Reich and executive director Dr. David M. Elcott, in a statement issued today.

"Though this initiative, originally launched by Crown Prince (now King) Abdullah in 2002, was not revised to meet some of Israel's objections, we hope that Israel will seize this opportunity by welcoming this initiative and by using it as the basis for negotiations with any of the Arab states which approved it and express a willingness to do so, including Syria," the statement continued.

"The United States, for its part, should actively encourage and facilitate these negotiations, and take part in them when necessary."

"When first proposed by Crown Prince Abdullah five years ago, this plan was a dramatic reversal of more than fifty years of rejectionist Saudi policy. To fully appreciate its significance and the opportunity if offers, it is important to highlight some of the Arab Peace initiative's exact operative language," Reich and Elcott pointed out.

"Its mention of  ‘peace' and ‘normal relations' with Israel and the ‘ending' of the ‘Arab-Israel conflict' are extremely significant. They are what Israel has been seeking since its birth."

"Those who find fault with this plan point to its reference to Palestinian refugees, which critics maintain would result in these refugees and descendants settling in Israel," Reich and Elcott noted. "A careful examination of the language shows this not to be the case. The initiative calls for a ‘just solution,' which could mean compensation, and ‘to be agreed upon,' which means that Israel must agree to the solution. In other words, it serves as a basis for negotiations."

"This opportunity to achieve a comprehensive peace and normal relations between Israel and the 22 Arab states and ‘two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security,' which President Bush first committed to in 2002, should not be squandered by the setting of conditions, lukewarm endorsements or outright dismissals," Reich and Elcott declared.

"We are hopeful that American and Israeli leaders will embrace this initiative, which is subject to negotiations. Israel Policy Forum pledges to vigorously and vocally support their efforts if they do, and to generate support within the American Jewish community and among the American public for these leaders' efforts to seize this momentous opportunity."