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An initiative lost...but still standing

We rarely hear the views of Arab spokespeople in the West. The media seems to prefer simply repeating the Israeli view or line.

It is therefore more than refreshing to read [especially as it has been published in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz] a piece written by Jordan's former Foreign Minister and first Jordanian ambassador to Israel, Marwan Muasher....how Israel failed to take up the initiative of the Arab League to resolve the Palestinian-Israel conflict as far back as 2002. More importantly, Muasher maintains that the Arab Peace Initiative still stands:

"Today, Israelis are realizing that a two-state solution is no longer in the interests of Palestinians and Arabs only, but also in the best interest of Israel, which will soon have more Arabs in areas under its control than Jews. Only a comprehensive agreement with the whole Arab world can give both sides what they need. To wait any longer is a recipe for the end of the two-state solution, and means continued violence for an indefinite period. The ingredients are all there: rising radicalization among Arabs in the region, continued settlement building, erection of the separation fence in Israel, and the strengthening of the rejectionist camp.

The onus is on the moderate camp, in both the Arab world and in Israel, to finally agree on a historic settlement that addresses the interests of both sides, ends the conflict and allows them to live in peace. The moderate Arab Peace Initiative still stands and goes a long way toward achieving that objective."

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