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Saudi peace proposal hailed

Important progress, say Israel and Palestinians

TOKYO: The revival of a 2002 West Asia peace plan proposed by Saudi Arabia would be an important first step in rejuvenating the peace process, said Israeli and Palestinian officials on Tuesday.

Israeli Vice-Premier Shimon Peres said the proposal represented important progress in the Arab position on Israeli, while Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat called the plan ``a major step forward.''

The plan calls for a full Israeli withdrawal from areas captured in the 1967 war, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

In exchange, Israel would receive full diplomatic recognition from the Arab world.

Israel rejected the plan in 2002, but has shown renewed interest amid lack of progress in direct talks with the Palestinians, despite continued reservations.

An Arab summit in Saudi Arabia on March 28-29 is expected to revive the proposal.

Mr. Peres, however, said the plan would be a starting point for negotiations, rather than the final destination, and he rejected setting any prior conditions for beginning talks.

``As an Arab position, it is progress, and we would like to continue negotiations,'' Mr. Peres told reporters.

``But it is the opening position, not yet the fallback,'' he said.

Mr. Peres said the plan represented and advance from past Arab refusals to recognise Israel's right to exist, but that tough issues such as refugees and the status of Jerusalem — which both Israel and the Palestinians claim as their capital — would have to be worked out in talks. — AP

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