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Israel and Palestine: Arab League Peace Plan

Answer

The Arab League’s re-endorsement of the 2002 Beirut Declaration at the Arab summit in Riyadh is a welcome step. It offers the prospect of normal relations between Israel and the Arab world. The Arab League has a key role to play in promoting reconciliation between the Israelis and Palestinians and moving forward the peace process. In its statement on 30 May, the quartet (EU, US, UN and Russia) noted its positive meeting with the Arab League in Sharm el-Sheikh on 4 May and looked forward to continued engagement with the Arab states. It welcomed the intention of the Arab League to engage Israel on the 2002 Arab League initiative and Israeli receptiveness to such engagement. The quartet encouraged continued and expanded Arab contacts with Israel and Israeli action to address concerns raised in the 18 April Arab League follow-up committee meeting, including a cessation of settlement expansion and the removal of illegal outposts, as called for in the road map. Israeli Foreign Minister Livni met President Mubarak and the Egyptian and Jordanian Foreign Ministers in Cairo on 10 May to discuss subsequent action. The quartet principals agreed to meet in the region with members of the Arab League to follow up on the Arab Peace initiative and efforts to advance the regional track. We support the Arab League’s engagement with the parties and welcome the meetings since the re-endorsement of the Arab League initiative. We hope that that will create confidence between the parties to restart negotiations.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

4169; 693 c16WA

Session

2006-07

Subjects

Israel Palestine Middle East Peace negotiations League of Arab States

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk