Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Arab League Visits Israel to Float Peace Plan

Group has rejected negotiation with Jewish state in the past

By Sam Gale Rosen, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 25, 2007 7:54 AM CDT

(Newser) – A delegation from the Arab League is visiting Israel for the first time ever today, in an effort to jump-start the peace process. The league has opposed all negotiation with the Jewish state in the past but is now presenting a peace plan that proposes giving Israel full recognition in exchange for a return to pre-1967 boundaries.

The visit by the foreign ministers of Egypt and Jordan is part of a push for peace renewed since the ouster of Hamas from the Palestinian government. Israel has already rejected their proffered plan once, when Saudi Arabia suggested it in 2002, but since then other moderate Arab states have endorsed it.

Amr Moussa, Secretary general of the Arab League, top center, and other league's officials pay a minute of silence Tuesday, June 5, 2007, in Cairo during a special session marking the 40th anniversary... (Associated Press)

Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa speaks during a press... (Getty Images (by Event))

Arab League Secretary General Amr Mussa (Getty Images (by Event))

Tony Blair (C), special envoy for the peace Quartet to the Middle... (Getty Images)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Syria Headed for Annapolis Talks

US gets full wish-list of Arab states to attend Israel-Palestine talks

(NEWSER) - Syria said today it will attend this week’s Israel-Palestine peace conference in Annapolis, a US victory in convincing every major Arab state—16 in all—to show, the AP reports. The US hopes such broad participation will help these talks succeed where previous efforts failed. Syria wants to discuss its Golan Heights region, which Israel captured in 1967. More»

Egypt on Board for Peace Talks

Rice restores confidence in US commitment

(NEWSER) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has restored Egypt's confidence in the US commitment to the Mideast peace process and won official support for peace talks this year, Reuters reports. The process is floundering for a variety of reasons, including the fact that the Bush administration has only a year left in office. Egypt is key to bringing other Arab nations on board. More»

Israelis Unearth Ancient Bethlehem Seal

Oldest reference to city found outside of the Bible

(AP) - Israeli archaeologists have discovered a 2,700-year-old seal that bears the inscription "Bethlehem," the Israel Antiquities Authority announced yesterday, in what experts believe to be the oldest artifact with the name of Jesus' traditional birthplace. The tiny clay seal's existence and age provide vivid evidence that Bethlehem was not just the name of a fabled biblical town, but also a bustling place of trade linked to the nearby city of Jerusalem, archaeologists said. More»

US 'Ready' to Strike Iran: Ambassador

Though diplomatic solution is preferable, Dan Shapiro says

(NEWSER) - The US has all the planning in place to launch a military strike on Iran should diplomacy fail to curb its nuclear ambitions, the US ambassador to Israel said today, just days before nuclear talks are set to resume. "It would be preferable to resolve this diplomatically," Ambassador Dan Shapiro said on Israeli Army Radio, according to Reuters . "But that doesn't mean that option is not fully available—not just available, but it's ready. The necessary planning has been done to ensure that it's ready." More»

Turks Suspect Bird Is Israeli Spy

Villagers were certain bee-eater was hiding a microchip

(NEWSER) - A tiny bird triggered a peck of trouble in a Turkish village when residents became convinced the creature was an Israeli spy. The dead European bee-eater was discovered wearing a metal band stamped with the word "Israel." Investigating villagers determined that the cheeper's nostrils were larger than average, possibly large enough to carry a microchip to aid in espionage. A careful examination by agricultural ministry experts concluded the bird was safe, and that the band was a common tracking measure for migratory birds—though it was tough to convince local police, officials told the BBC . More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Arab League Visits Israel to Float Peace Plan

Group has rejected negotiation with Jewish state in the past

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Related Links

Israel • Arab League

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Syria Headed for Annapolis Talks

US gets full wish-list of Arab states to attend Israel-Palestine talks

Egypt on Board for Peace Talks

Rice restores confidence in US commitment

Israelis Unearth Ancient Bethlehem Seal

Oldest reference to city found outside of the Bible

US 'Ready' to Strike Iran: Ambassador

Though diplomatic solution is preferable, Dan Shapiro says

Turks Suspect Bird Is Israeli Spy

Villagers were certain bee-eater was hiding a microchip

About Us

Site

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?