BICOM

Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office cautiously welcomed Monday’s announcement by the Arab League of a softened stance towards the conditions needed for a comprehensive peace agreement with Israel.

Following a meeting on Monday in Washington with US Secretary of State John Kerry, a high level Arab League delegation announced agreement to “comparable,” mutually agreed and “minor” land swaps, signalling a shift from rigid adherence to the 1967 lines as borders between Israel and a future Palestinian state. The new stance represents an amendment to the 2002 Arab Peace 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. All are major obstacles to reaching an agreement.

However, Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office “welcomed the support given by the Arab league delegation and the US Secretary of State to the diplomatic process” and said that Israel is prepared to negotiate with the Palestinians immediately. Senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat also expressed muted support for the announcement, saying that it offered nothing new but “presented the official Palestinian position.”

However, Israel’s President Shimon Peres said that with the Arab League announcement, “a broad structure of support is being created for making progress” and that “there is a chance to open negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.” Israel’s Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who will head any Israeli delegation in peace talks, hailed it as “a message to the Israeli public that this is not just about us and the Palestinians” and that it may “allow the Palestinians to enter the room and make the needed compromises.” Meanwhile, all 52 opposition members of Knesset signed a petition compelling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address parliament on the Arab League announcement.