An upcoming Arab League summit is expected
to call for peace talks with Israel in the framework of a land-for-peace deal. The
closing statement of the conference, to begin Wednesday, already has been
written, Yediot Achronot reported. The statement “reconfirms the
plan for full peace in exchange for Israel’s withdrawal from all Arab
territories” and “a timetable for beginning Arab-Israeli negotiations will be
set.”
The
statement makes no mention of the Palestinian demand for a refugee “right of return” to Israel, Yediot reported.
The Saudi-initiated Arab peace plan is expected
to be the central issue of the summit. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
recently surprised many when he suggested his government might consider the
plan if the Arabs make certain amendments.
