BICOM

Senior leaders from several Arab states met with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Washington yesterday and softened their stance on the conditions of a comprehensive peace agreement with Israel.

Since taking office, Kerry has prioritised kick starting direct talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders, becoming a regular visitor to the region. However, he also wants the Arab League to play a role in the process, to ensure that future talks have wider backing across the Arab world. Kerry and US Vice-President Joe Biden hosted an Arab League delegation yesterday, which included the foreign ministers of Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan and Qatar and senior officials from Lebanon, Palestinian Authority and Saudi Arabia.

The discussions focused on the principles of the 2002 Arab League Initiative, which proposed full Arab recognition of Israel in exchange for a return to 1967 borders, the inclusion of East Jerusalem in a future Palestinian state and the return of Palestinian refugees to what is now Israel. For several reasons Israel opposes these conditions, which do not account for post-1967 demographic changes and appear to ignore the threat posed to Israel’s Jewish majority by the influx of Palestinian refugees. However, the Arab League delegation appeared to soften its’ stance yesterday. Qatari Prime Minister Sheik al-Thani said that the delegation agreed to the possibility of “comparable,” mutually agreed and “minor” land swaps between the Israelis and the Palestinians.  The League also said that it, “endorses President Mahmoud Abbas’ effort for the peace” and expressed support for an economic package for the Palestinians, making no mention of Hamas.

Kerry hailed the talks saying, “We’ve had a very positive, very constructive discussion.” He confirmed “The Arab League delegation affirmed…the two-state solution on the basis of the 4th of June 1967 line, with the (possibility) of comparable and mutual agreed minor swap of the land.”

Israel’s Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who will also head Israel’s delegation in future peace talks told Army Radio this morning that al-Thani’s comments were “very positive news.”