(Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Lt. Col. (ret.) Jonathan D. Halevi - The Arab Peace Initiative, which was adopted at the Beirut summit in 2002, returned to the diplomatic discourse after an April 29 visit to Washington by an Arab League delegation. The Palestinian Authority confirms that there is nothing new in the formula of minor land swaps. Hamas, for its part, stresses that the entire territory of Palestine belongs to the Palestinian people. Thus, the assessment of a change in the Arab League's position was premature. The Qatari prime minister's declaration was basically tactical, aimed at putting the ball back in Israel's court, pushing Israel into a corner. Moreover, the U.S. was looking for a peg, however artificial, on which to hang diplomatic activity that gives an impression of advancing the peace process. The writer is a former advisor to the Policy Planning Division of the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
2013-05-06 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive