Home>>World
Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, March 29, 2002

Israel Rejects Arab Peace Plan Endorsed at Beirut Arab Summit

Israel would refuse to accept the Arab peace plan endorsed Thursday at the just-concluded 14th Arab summit in the Lebanese capital of Beirut, according to Israeli officials.


PRINT DISCUSSION CHINESE SEND TO FRIEND


Israel would refuse to accept the Arab peace plan endorsed Thursday at the just-concluded 14th Arab summit in the Lebanese capital of Beirut, according to Israeli officials.

The Arab peace plan, based on a Saudi peace initiative, offers Israel normal relations with Arabs in exchange for its withdrawal from all occupied Arab land, acceptance of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital and a fair solution for the Palestinian refugees.

Aides to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said that the term "normal relations" was too vague, while rejecting any right of return for the Palestinian refugees. Sharon has also rejected any full withdrawal from occupied Arab territories.

An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman said in the day that Israel "cannot accept, on the one hand, to have negotiations on the creation of a Palestinian state, an independent Palestinian state, and on the other hand, have all the Palestinians come into Israel."

"This means the destruction of the state of Israel and obviously we cannot agree," the spokesman added.

The Beirut Declaration adopted at the Arab summit claims that Israel must accept a Palestinian state and agree to a "just solution" to the Palestinian refugee problem in line with U.N. Resolution l94 that calls for repatriation or compensation for the Palestinian refugees.

In return, according the declaration, the Arab countries would " consider entering into a peace agreement with Israel and establishing normal relations with Israel in the context of this comprehensive peace."


Questions?Comments? Click here
    Advanced

Roundup: 14th Arab Summit Closes With Emphasis on Peace Strategy

Israel Urged to Abide by UN Resolutions to Achieve Peace in Mideast



>> Full Coverage

 

Copyright by People's Daily Online, all rights reserved