THE UNACCEPTABLE SAUDI PEACE PLAN

I'VE BLOGGED BEFORE ABOUT WHY THE SO CALLED SAUDI PEACE PLAN IS A NON-STARTER. THE U.S. SEEMS TO AGREE WITH ISRAEL THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REFORMULATED. EGYPT, ON THE OTHER HAND, SAYS THAT ISRAEL MUST ACCEPT IT AS IS BEFORE BEGINNING NEGOTIATIONS. OF COURSE IF ISRAEL DOES THAT THERE WILL BE NOTHING TO NEGOTIATE (AND NO ISRAEL FOR THAT MATTER).

U.S. Joins Israel in Peace Effort - Salah Nasrawi
The U.S. has quietly joined Israel in urging Arab leaders to reformulate their 2002 peace offer in an effort to end the decades-long Middle East conflict, Arab diplomats said Thursday. So far, some Arab heavyweights are publicly resisting the idea. Three Arab diplomats in different Arab capitals said Washington has been pressing for changes to make the offer in line with the "Roadmap." (AP/Washington Post)

SEE ALSO: US, Israel Demand Changes To Arab Peace Proposal (AHN)

Egypt: Israel must accept Arab peace plan before negotiations begin (YNet)
"Israel must announce first that it is accepting the (Arab peace) initiative, then we start searching for a mechanism of negotiations, for a peaceful settlement for the conflict," said Egyptian Deputy Foreign Minister Hani Khalaf, Friday. The Arab plan offers Israel recognition and peace in return for full withdrawal from the land Israel captured in the 1967 war, plus the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. It also calls for allowing Palestinian refugees the right to return to homes in Israel.