Arab Summit to call on Israel to accept Arab Peace Initiative

Monday March 30, 2009 09:03 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

The Arab Summit will be kicked off Today, Monday, in Doha – Qatar, with several topics including Iraq, Sudan, Somalia, and Palestine. The leaders are also planning to call on Israel to accept the Arab Peace Initiative.

Arab Countries - Reprinted from Fateh.ps

Mohammad Sbeih, deputy head of the Arab League, said that the Arab leaders will discuss 26 files during the summit.

He added that of the topics to be discussed is the upcoming right-wing government in Israel, as this government is calling for war instead of peace, and added that the issues of Jerusalem, settlements and peace are topping the agenda.

Palestinian sources reported that the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank is hoping the summit would call for supporting the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas.

The leaders are also planning to discuss an initiative to give Israel a last chance to accept the Arab initiative before it becomes voided forever.

The Arab Peace initiative calls for normalization with Israel if it withdraws from all of the occupied territories, including East Jerusalem. It also demands Israel to halt its illegal settlement activities in the occupied territories.

The Sudanese President, Omar Al Basheer, arrived in Qatar on Sunday to participate in the summit. It is worth mentioning that the International Court in Lahai issued a warrant to arrest Al Basheer for alleged war crimes in Darfur.

Also, Arab member of Knesset, Ahmad Tibi, will be participating in the summit.

Tibi told Haaretz Israeli newspaper that he met with a number of Arab officials, calling on the international community to oblige Israel to accept a two-state solution, and to act on establishing an independent Palestinian State.

Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak, will not be participating in the summit. Egypt did not present an explanation but an Egyptian official said that his country will participate in the summit, and will be committed to its decisions and statements.

UN Secretary General, Ban ki-Moon, will be attending the summit in spite of the participation of the Sudanese president.

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