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Time Is Ripe to End the Arab-Israeli Conflict

[Times-UK] Israeli President Shimon Peres - Well-formulated peace plans are not enough on their own. Something else is often required. What brought about the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty, signed in 1979, was a journey of less than an hour - the time it took Anwar Sadat to fly from Cairo to Jerusalem. It captured people's imaginations and created a turning point far more powerful than outside pressure. This journey put an end to the history of suspicion. King Abdullah of Jordan's father did something similar in 1997 after seven Israeli girls were murdered by a Jordanian soldier. King Hussein, disregarding protocol, drove to Beit Shemesh, a town close to Jerusalem, where he visited each and every one of the bereaved families. The impact of this unexpected gesture on the Israeli public was spectacular. Many Arab leaders perceive hegemony-seeking Iran as a threat to their existence and identity. For them, the primary challenge is not Israel but the Iranian ayatollahs who seek domination over the Middle East, using terror and threats of unconventional weapons. Israel is increasingly viewed as a part of the new path for a regional solution. The positive spirit of the Arab peace initiative, together with the Roadmap, provides a clear opportunity. Israel did not take part in the wording of the Arab peace initiative and, therefore, should not be expected to accept its every word. But Israel is ready to negotiate common ground. Regional negotiations should start without preconditions.
2009-06-04 06:00:00
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