Jordan Times
Monday, May 7, 2007
'Arab peace plan
historic chance’
Monarch visits Riyadh to condole Saudi King
AMMAN (JT) — King Abdullah returned Sunday after a short visit to Riyadh, where
he offered condolences to Saudi King Abdullah over the passing of Prince Abdul
Majid Ben Abdul Aziz Al Saud.
Prince Abdul Majid was emir of the key Mecca region since 2000. The prince, who
died on Friday, was previously emir of Medina and Tabouk.
Meanwhile, King Abdullah discussed Mideast issues and bilateral ties with a
group of German parliamentarians.
At a Royal Court meeting, the Monarch reviewed with the Bundestag delegation
developments in the Middle East, particularly efforts to revive the peace
process as well as the situation in Iraq.
The King said Germany plays a key role in enhancing peace, security and
stability in the region.
Underlining the need to intensify international efforts to resume
Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, King Abdullah reiterated that the 2002 Arab
Peace Initiative provides a “historic” opportunity to resolve the Arab-Israeli
conflict.
The initiative called on Israel to withdraw from all land occupied in the 1967
Middle East war, reach an “agreed, just” solution for Palestinian refugees and
accept a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip with East Jerusalem
as its capital.
In return, Arab states would consider the conflict over, sign a peace treaty
with Israel and establish normal relations with the Jewish state.
After the plan was relaunched at the Riyadh Arab summit in March, Israeli Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert said he saw positive points in it, though Israel opposes
the return of Palestinian refugees to their former homes in what is now the
Jewish state and wants to retain major settlement blocks in the West Bank.
The German MPs’ visit was part of a regional tour of Syria, the West Bank and
Israel.
The lawmakers also met Faisal Fayez, head of the Senate Committee on Foreign
Affairs.