Intifadha, Saudi Initiative & Iraq Top on Arab Summit Agenda

26/03/2002| IslamWeb

BEIRUT, Lebanon (Islamweb & News Agencies) - Arab foreign ministers meeting in the Lebanese capital to set the agenda for Wednesday's Arab summit meeting have wrapped six hours of consultations with agreement on a formula in support of the Palestinian intifadha, uprising against Israeli occupation, postponed discussions on details of the Saudi initiative that has captured the world's attention until they hear what Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah has to say about his proposal and expressed opposition to any U.S. military strike against Iraq or on any fellow Arab state, which is widely viewed as potentially destabilizing for the region. (Read photo caption below)
After Monday's preparatory session, the foreign ministers did not elaborate on their own proposals to support the Palestinians. Various draft proposals circulating have called for Palestinian refugees to be allowed to return to their homes in accordance with U.N. resolutions.
Lebanese and Arab League officials said that the ministers would call for the withdrawal of Israel from occupied Arab territory, support the Palestinians and call for the establishment of a Palestinian state. Beyond that, they did not elaborate.
SAUDI PROPOSAL-BACKGROUND
When floated in mid-February, Abdullah's idea was simple: A full Israeli withdrawal from Arab land seized in 1967 for full peace with Arab nations. But since then, matters have been getting complicated.
What had set the Saudi initiative apart from past efforts was Abdullah's offer to Israel of completely normal relations with the entire Arab world - in theory, that means embassies in each other's capitals, trade relations, travel back and forth by citizens and politicians. Hard-line oppose offering so much to Israel, while others want to ask more in return.
Several Arab states, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, want a simple initiative, but a few nations want to add positions on all outstanding issues - positions on handling refugees and the sensitive issue of Jerusalem, said Rafic Khoury, editor in chief and political analyst for Al-Anwar daily newspaper in Beirut.

PHOTO CAPTION:
Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal, center, sits with unidentified members of his delegation as Arab foreign ministers opened their meeting in Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, March 25, 2002, demanding Israel pull out of all occupied Arab land and saying Arabs want peace, but not at any cost. The ministers are meeting under tight security to prepare for a summit of heads of state Wednesday that is expected to launch a Saudi proposal on ending 18 months of bloodshed in the Israeli-Palestinian areas and turning the attention of the entire region back toward peacemaking. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Tawil)
- Mar 25 6:06 AM ET