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Peace Process

Olmert eager for talks with 'extremist' Arab League


By Ryan Jones
April 15, 2007

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert revealed on Sunday he has high hopes of soon being invited to preliminary talks with Arab League representatives aimed at launching a regional peace process.

Olmert told the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem that Israel's goal in the "working group discussions" would be to soften the Arab League's opening peace demands.

Last month, the Arab League re-adopted a Saudi-authored proposal that offers Israel peace with its neighbors in return for a full withdrawal from Judea-Samaria, Jerusalem and the Golan Heights.

It also demands that Israel open its borders to millions of foreign-born Arabs who calls themselves "Palestinian refugees."

The Arab League insists that these demands are non-negotiable, and must be fully accepted by Israel before any further talks can proceed.

Israeli government sources stressed that Israel has not yet been invited to meet with any Arab League working group, and that it may never be.

Meanwhile, Transportation Minister Sha'ul Mofaz of Olmert's ruling Kadima Party slammed the prime minister for his willingness to be sucked into what will ultimately be detrimental talks.

The Arab League is an "extremist organization" that Israel must not negotiate with, Israel National News (INN) quoted Mofaz as telling a Kadima faction meeting in Jerusalem.

The opposition Likud Party also voiced its displeasure over Olmert's readiness to so endanger the Jewish state's future.

One party official told INN:

Olmert’s failing government that has lost the public trust long ago, has no public legitimacy to make any diplomatic moves whatsoever.

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