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Jordan, Egypt ambassadors say regional peace is possible
The Jordanian and Egyptian ambassadors to Israel have expressed optimism that there is a genuine opportunity for regional peace, based on the Arab Peace Initiative.
Speaking at the Herzliya Security Conference, Jordan’s Ambassador Walid Obeidat said: “The Arab peace initiative stands as the master of all initiatives when we talk about regional approaches.”
He added: “What more could Israel ask for than this?”
Sharing the stage, Egypt’s Ambassador Hazem Khairat said: “Egypt still believes that reaching a peace agreement is achievable.”
He said that Cairo is committed towards peace and security in the region, “activating the Arab Peace Initiative”. However, he stressed the “tremendous challenges and crises” in the region and contended that “there is not much time left” for Israel and the Palestinians to make peace.
Addressing the Jordanian and Egyptian comments, Israel’s opposition leader Isaac Herzog told the conference: “The notion that a group of moderate Arab states are willing to politically engage with Israel by way of a regional initiative is a unique opportunity.”
He added: “Moderate Arab nations are coalescing into a kind of informal Sunni Arab version of NATO in the Middle East that identifies the same threats that Israel does.”
Herzog accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of choosing “considerations of political survival” over a unity government dedicated to such a regional initiative.
Meanwhile, Herzog’s Zionist Union colleague Tzipi Livni said: “There’s a clear majority for the two-state solution within the Israeli people and we need a large camp to express this majority in a clear way.”
She urged that “Israel must make a decision right now” on West Bank territory.
The Arab Peace Initiative refers to a Saudi-spearheaded plan, which proposes a pan-Arab rapprochement with Israel, in return for the establishment of a Palestinian state. Israeli leaders have been circumspect on the details, but in recent weeks, both Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman have expressed support for its basic premise as the foundation for a regional agreement.