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Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Netanyahu pushes Arabs to normalize ties
2009-05-28
[Iran Press TV Latest] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he is widening the circle of peace process, urging Arab states to normalize relations with Tel Aviv.

The hawkish Israeli prime minister, who has so far opposed peace talks with Palestinians, told Knesset on Wednesday that he was going to introduce new measures in making peace with the Palestinians. In return, he expects Arab countries to establish diplomatic relations with Israel immediately.

Currently only two Arab nations --Egypt and Jordan-- have diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv.

"We are prepared to make, and we will make, concrete steps for peace with the Palestinians. We expect the Palestinians to make such concrete steps as well. And it would be good if Arab countries joined the peace effort and made concrete and symbolic steps toward normalization with Israel, not later, but now," Netanyahu said.
This is sneaky smart and worthy of Middle East intrigue. It will help blunt some of the world press -- Israel's making peace, after all -- and will wrong-foot the Arab states for a while.
After his arrival from the US last week, Netanyahu said that he was ready to begin peace talks with Arab states adding that US President Barack Obama backed his idea of normalizing ties with Arab countries.

The new Israeli government has so far refused to support the Arab peace initiative, which offers Tel Aviv relations with the 23 members of the Arab League in return for its complete withdrawal from land it occupied in 1967.

Netanyahu did not talk about the Arab initiative.
Possibly because the Arab initiative is unspeakable.
Posted by:Fred

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