Israel Still Hopeful for Regional Parley, by Herb Keinon (Jerusalem Post)
Excerpts;
Olmert, at a press conference Sunday evening in Jerusalem with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, proposed “a meeting of all the heads of the Arab states, including – obviously – the Saudi king, whom I see as a very important leader, to have discussions with us.”
The idea, according to senior diplomatic officials, was for a meeting where regional leaders who “believe in dialogue” would meet and express “face to face” their ideas about how to achieve a resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Olmert’s regional summit idea was his initial public reaction to the Arab League Summit’s adapting once again the Arab League Initiative from 2002, that called for a full Israeli withdrawal to the 1967 lines and the return of Palestinian refugees in exchange for normal ties.
Even though the terms of the Arab initiative were not acceptable to Israel, diplomatic officials said that there was a feeling that moderate elements in the Arab world were now open for dialogue, “which makes us hopeful that there is something with which we can go forward.”
Commentary;
How flowery the words sound on paper, in print. However, the reality for anyone with an ounce of savvy, is; what “ideas” or dialogue can there possibly be with the Arab nation bent on Israel’s destruction, a dubious US ally and a hostile EU?
Consider these words from an Editorial by Uzi Arad;
The two diplomatic formulas which were rejected by Sharon during his term in office – the Saudi Initiative and the Geneva Initiative – are now being renewed by Ehud Olmert and Tzipi Livni. If various clauses in these initiatives are adopted, they will join the series of Israeli concessions, withdrawals and flexibility of the last decade – almost all of them undertaken unilaterally and void of any benefit.
The ineffective practice of concessions has been carried out for the sole purpose of political survival.
The reality of Olmert’s “regional parley” is Olmert presiding over Israel’s annihilation, pure and simply. MB