Jordan Times
Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Khatib to meet Abul Gheit, Livni

AMMAN (JT) — Foreign Minister Abdul Ilah Khatib is expected to discuss with his Egyptian and Israeli counterparts means to push for talks on the Arab Peace Initiative, Foreign Ministry sources here confirmed.

Khatib is scheduled to meet with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit and their Israeli counterpart Tzipi Livni in Cairo, the source told The Jordan Times.

A senior Israeli diplomatic source told Agence France-Presse earlier that “Livni is planning to go on an official Cairo visit on Thursday for talks on several bilateral issues, including the Saudi peace initiative”.

The peace plan revived at an Arab summit in Riyadh offers Israel normal relations if it withdraws from all land seized in the 1967 Middle East war, and allows for the creation of a Palestinian state and the return of Palestinian refugees.

Israel, which rejected the plan when it was first launched at a Beirut summit in 2002, has recently said it could provide a basis for talks, provided there are amendments to the refugee issue.

The Arab League has tasked Jordan and Egypt to persuade Israel to accept the peace initiative.

Meanwhile, Khatib yesterday discussed with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari efforts to restore stability in the violence-hit country, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.


Back to May 8, 2007