Saudi source: No talks before Israel accepts Arab peace plan

[bemildred]

Saudi Arabia said Tuesday that Israel must first accept the Arab peace initiative before it would agree to any direct talks with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Olmert has called for a summit with the Saudis in order to discuss the peace process, following an Arab League decision to re-launch a 2002 peace initiative that calls for an Israeli withdrawal to the pre-1967 boundaries and a just and agreed solution to the refugee problem.

A Saudi source told The Associated Press that Israel must accept the proposal "before any meeting is considered."

The source's comments, given on condition of anonymity, were the first Saudi response to the prime minister's offer.

Haaretz

[Kagemusha]

1. Just FYI for people not following this story closely...

The Prime Minister's offer was the first Israeli response to the Arab peace initiative in the last FIVE YEARS.

That's the context of the Saudis not being especially impressed.

[msmcghee]

2. I think the Saudis were totally surprised that . .

. . Olmert called their bluff. Israel was supposed say to say no way Jose. Now, we see that the Saudis had no intention of seeking any peace w/ Israel on behalf of Palestine.

[sabbat hunter]

3. why have a summit

if you agree to the peace initiative?

Lets just say Israel accepts the Saudi led peace plan, why is there a need for talks after that?

Initiatives are supposed to be a starting point for negotiations. if it is a take it or leave it, what is there to talk about if it is accepted?

[Violet_Crumble]

4. For the same reason there were talks all through the Oslo period...

Both sides agreed to peace and even agreed on paper to steps that would lead to it. Without talks (and as Oslo proved, sometimes even with talks) everything would unravel rapidly, as it's the talking that's the momentum for action...

I do find it a bit ironic that people are bothered at what they see as a take it or leave it thing while not having a problem with the take it or leave it of the 'offer' made at Camp David, where Arafat was painted as the worst person in the world for not taking it instead of leaving it...