Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ security advisor Mohammad Dahlan said here yesterday that it would not be enough for Arab leaders to propose a political initiative, such as the one proposed in Beirut in 2002 by the Kingdom regarding the Palestinian issue, without any mechanisms for implementation. “It is important that there be a mechanism for implementation on the ground regarding any peace initiative,” he told reporters here on arrival. “It should also produce the mechanisms for cooperation with the international community to support the proposal.”Dahlan said that in order for the proposal to hold water, it would have to be followed up by an initiative from Arab foreign ministers. “Only then would the proposal have a serious impact,” he said. He said that Arab foreign ministers had agreed that this mechanism for implementation would be led by Saudi Arabia. Dahlan said he was hopeful that the summit would endorse “many of the previous Arab summit decisions that have not seen the light.”
He lauded the Kingdom for hosting the summit and the role played by the country in supporting the Palestinian cause, citing the example of the Makkah summit. “We also hope that the summit financially supports the unified Palestinian government in a serious and direct manner so the government can start doing its duty,” he said, adding that the lifting of embargos is vital to the success of the new government.
Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said that the Arab stance regarding the Palestinian issue was “firm”, which is represented in the Arab peace initiative.