American Jewish group supports Arab peace initiative

American Jewish group supports Arab peace initiative

Oakland, CA — Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), one of America's largest Jewish peace groups, welcomed the Arab League's reaffirmation of the 2002 Saudi peace plan and called on the United States and Israel to pursue negotiations with the Palestinians and the League of Arab States on the basis of the plan.

The Saudi plan offers Israel normal relations with every Arab state in exchange for a complete Israeli withdrawal from all the territories it captured in the war of 1967 and a negotiated resolution to the Palestinian refugee issue. JVP Director of Education and Policy Mitchell Plitnick said that Israel could not hope for a better starting point for negotiations.

"The Arab states have spelled out their stance on peace, both what it would take from Israel and what they are offering in return," Plitnick said. "This is the chance for Israel to have the full peace it's always dreamed of. Normal relations, which the Arabs are now offering, means much more than just a cessation of hostilities; it means economic, social and cultural ties that make ware impossible and create a better future for everyone. It means a chance for Israel to not only be at peace but to actually be comfortable with its neighbors."

Plitnick also pointed out that the Arab League proposal need not be agreed to as is by Issrael, but simply accepted as a basis for negotiations.

"No one is saying Israel has to agree with everything in the plan," Plitnick said. "It is simply the place for negotiations to begin. The only way this conflict will ever be resolved is for both sides to deal with those issues the other side feels are important. The Arab states have now put that forth. If Israel is ever to have peace and security, it must negotiate resolutions to the issues, including the Palestinian refugees. The Arab states have acknowledged that these issues must be resolved in partnership with Isarel. Israel and the U.S. must embrace this opportunity, because such a good one may never come again."