Israeli prime minister invites Arab leaders to peace conference

Kudos to Olmert for not ignoring this Arab initiative like his predecessor did back in 2002. Talks will be a good start. If this regional conference actually comes to fruition, having the Israelis, Saudis, Syrians, Palestinians, Egyptians and Jordanians at the table at the same time talking/shouting at each other face-to-face would be an historical event in and of itself, regardless of the outcome.


Israeli prime minister invites Arab leaders to peace conference

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-04-01-palestinians_N.htm?csp=24

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday invited Arab leaders to a regional peace conference, saying that he hoped for an exchange of views about solving the Arab-Israeli conflict.

He said each side would bring its own demands, and neither would try to dictate terms.

Speaking at a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is the current head of the European Union, he said, "I would even take advantage of this important opportunity to be with the EU president to invite all Arab heads of state, including the king of Saudi Arabia, to a meeting for a dialogue."

Last week at a summit in Saudi Arabia, the Arab League renewed a 2002 Saudi peace plan that would give Israel recognition in exchange for withdrawal from all captured territories and a just solution for the Palestinian refugees. Olmert welcomed the decision, saying it showed a major change in the way Arab states viewed Israel, but he said Israel did not accept all parts of the plan.

In a series of interviews over the weekend, Olmert said he would welcome talks with Saudi Arabia and moderate Arab leaders, but at the time stopped far short of calling for a peace conference.

Olmert also denied reports of a planned coordinated offensive in which the U.S. would attack Iran and Israel would hit Syria and Lebanon at the same time.

Olmert dismissed the idea, calling it "a plan we don't know of. It is baseless, and an unfounded rumor with no foundation. I hope no one will operate on the basis of unfounded rumor to create a move that would have no reason to drag us into" a conflict.

Earlier Sunday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on Israel "to take constructive steps" in response to a new Arab peace initiative.

Standing next to Abbas, Merkel welcomed the Arab initiative, but said it was not a final plan.

"It's clear when you negotiate, that you have to talk to each other, and often the opening position is not the final position, but that you have to find a compromise. Many Arab countries now show a sense of responsibility. I feel there is goodwill on both sides. What is necessary is to build trust," she said, before calling for Palestinian militants to release an Israeli soldier captured last June.

Abbas also reiterated his calls for the soldier's release, but he has been unable to persuade Hamas-allied militants to free the young man.

Merkel called on both Israel and the Palestinians to seize the "window of opportunity" opened by the new international peace push to end their conflict.

"I believe time is of the essence. We have to try to reach results as quickly as possible," she said.

She also said she spoke with Abbas about the demands by the Quartet of international mediators that the new coalition government between Abbas' Fatah and the Islamic Hamas group recognize Israel, renounce violence and accept past peace agreements. With the Palestinian government refusing to meet those conditions, international sanctions that prevent millions of dollars from flowing through the Palestinian Cabinet have remained in place.

"My request is to do everything possible to ensure that the entire national unity government will accept the Quartet's criteria. Only those who renounce violence, accept Israel's right to exist and accept previous agreements, can be a partner in further (peace) efforts," she said.