CAIRO, After two decades from its launch, the Saudi-led Arab Peace Initiative, which called for land in exchange for peace, still remains a viable solution to the Middle East peace process.
The plan, based on the two-state solution, is viewed as the only option for peace in the region; however, it is continuously under the threat of Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people under silence on part of some members of the international community.
Speaking to KUNA on the issue, official spokesman of the Arab League Secretary General Ahmad Abul-Gheit, Jamal Rushdi stressed that the international community must push for the success of the initiative despite the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people and violations in occupied lands in the region.
The triad meeting for the Arab League, Saudi Arabia, and the European Union (EU) in Brussels last week focused on the initiative, which was proposed by Saudi Arabia in the 2002 Beirut Arab Summit.
During the recent meeting, the European side expressed desire to continue to support the initiative as a mean to end the situation between Israelis and Palestinians, Rushdi indicated.
He noted that the European Union, during the Brussels meeting, provided some ideas on how to move forward with the initiative via introducing incentives for both Israelis and Palestinians.
The incentives provided security and economic assurances and support to appease both Palestinians and Israelis, leading to the much-sought peace in the region, he added.
He said that the initiative would lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders and east Jerusalem as the future capital of Palestine.
The Arab and European sides are focusing in the upcoming period on finding common grounds to move forward with the initiative, but there is a huge obstacle in the way, Rusdhi pointed out.
In 2022, Israel carried out a systematic campaign of oppression against the Palestinian people in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, said Rushdi, revealing that the rise of a far-right government in Israel did not bode well for the Arab peace initiative.
He revealed that this government was eager to expand illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank and elsewhere, showing its true colors in disrespecting the Palestinian people and their right to live.
This will surely generate a reaction from the Palestinian side and chances for peace would decrease henceforth, affirmed Rushdi.
The international community must intervene and halt the Israeli aggression on all levels against the Palestinian people if the world was keen on peace, he stressed, saying that the Arab League was depending on the EU and other international partners to stand with justice and send a clear message to the Israeli government.
Members of the triad meeting in Brussels agreed to look into ways to further chances for peace in the Middle East and at the same time, putting an end to the continuous illegal policies implemented and propagated by the far-right government of Israel.
Providing more insight on the issue, Assistant Secretary General for Palestinian Affairs and Occupied Arab Lands Saeed Abu Ali commended the positive stance on part of the EU in regards to the Arab peace initiative.
He expressed hopes that the EU would continue to push for the two-state solution, saying should be reflected on the international level through meetings and conferences.
He stressed that the Arab World stood firmly on supporting the Arab Peace Initiative as it originated some 20 years ago, saying that the Brussels meeting reflected similar supportive sentiments.
The implementation of the initiative would provide Israel the recognition and normal relations it seeks with Arab countries, but the Israeli arrogance and aggression against Palestinians continued to derail peace in the region.
Source: Kuwait News Agency