Netanyahu backs ‘general idea’ behind Arab Peace Initiative

[shira]

While stopping short of fully endorsing the Arab Peace Initiative, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that he welcomed the general idea behind it — a regional agreement between Israel and the moderate Arab states.

The Arab Peace Initiative, originally proposed by Saudi Arabia in 2002, has many problematic aspects to it, the prime minister said, such as its call for an Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights and the return of Palestinians refuges to Israel. “There are positive aspects and negative aspects to it,” he told Israeli diplomatic correspondents at a rare on-record briefing. “This initiative is 13 years old, and the situation in the Middle East has changed since it was first proposed. But the general idea — to try and reach understandings with leading Arab countries — is a good idea.”

In the framework proposed by the initiative, all Arab and Islamic states would establish normal diplomatic relations with Israel after the successful conclusion of the peace process with the Palestinians. The Israeli government has never fully endorsed the plan. But Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that given Iran’s nuclear and regional aspirations, the moderate Arab states and Israel have a common enemy and grounds for increased cooperation.

more...
http://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-endorses-general-idea-behind-arab-peace-initiative/

[Scootaloo]

1. So in other words, he said nothing of value on the subject?

'Cause once parsed, Mr. Bibbles is basically saying "I like the idea of it, except for all the ideas in it."

His rejection of a return of the Golan is interesting. Since of course, an end to that occupation is conditional on peace with syria - peace that would be achieved in this agreement.

[shira]

3. In the reality based world, withdrawing from the Golan & allowing for ISIS or Hezbollah....

...or the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to perch themselves in an area overlooking Israel's populated areas is suicidal.

Besides, Ehud Barak offered to withdraw from the Golan in exchange for peace back in 2000, and he was utterly rejected.

[Scootaloo]

4. In the reality-based world, Golan is Syria

Israel always has an excuse for its violation of law and ethics. It's like a five year old who always has an explanation for why the DVD player is full of ketchup or the little sibling ha a new haircut.

[shira]

5. So? UNSCR242 calls for a negotiated peaceful settlement WRT the Golan. n/t

[Scootaloo]

6. Which the Arab Peace Initiative offers.

Make up your mind, is it "suicide" to ever end the occupation of Golan, or should it be ended through treaty?

[shira]

7. If Syria had no interest in land for peace in 2000, what makes u think...

....they'd be peaceful once the Arab Peace Initiative is implemented?

[Scootaloo]

8. Olmert's offer was badly flawed, Shira

Olmert was not going to cede all of the territory back to Syria. He wanted Israel to keep the northeastern Galilee shore. The trouble there is of course, that's as much part of Syria as the rest of Golan. Understandably Syria was not real interested in this "offer" as it amounted to Olmert offering to give Syria a piece of Syria in exchange for another piece of Syria - and the part Israel wanted to keep is actually pretty vital to Syria, what with you know, fresh water being a little hard to come by in the region.

However, talks over the issue resumed in 2003 through Turkish mediators, until Barack's resignation in 2008. Netanyahu came in and shut down the process.

[oberliner]

2. Several of the Arab League dictators who proposed it have since been deposed

So I think it is most likely a moot point now.