Sharon Voices Advancing Saudi Peace Proposal to Restart Peace Efforts

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, February 25, 2002

Sharon Voices Advancing Saudi Peace Proposal to Restart Peace Efforts

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Sunday that he would advance a Saudi proposal to restart the peace process with the Palestinians and the Arab world, Israel Radio reported.

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Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Sunday that he would advance a Saudi proposal to restart the peace process with the Palestinians and the Arab world, Israel Radio reported.

Sharon's remarks came after Justice Minister Meir Sheetrit suggested that the proposal's sponsor, Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah ibn Abdul-Aziz, be invited to Israel to discuss the peace proposal.

This is the first time that Sharon has commented on the proposal, which has been welcomed by the international community, including the United Nations and the major mediator to the Mideast conflict, the United States.

Under the proposal, the Arab League would end its summit in Beirut, Lebanon, in late March by expressing a readiness for full normalization with Israel in exchange for a full Israeli withdrawalfrom the occupied territories according to the U.N. Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338.

The Saudi crown prince, however, has reiterated that he had no intention to introduce the peace plan before the upcoming Arab summit, because of Israel's resorting to military strikes against the Palestinian people.

Analysts here said that it is not realistic to believe that the peace initiative would be implemented by Israel.

The proposal, in fact, only gives Israel and the Palestinians a chance to break away from the deadlock, in which both sides likely have no will to escalate the badly situation, they said.

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