Saudi Arabia's VISION FOR PEACE

in the Middle East

 
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audi Arabia has historically been a proponent of achieving a negotiated settlement of the Middle East crisis on the basis of the principle of land-for-peace and United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338. While Saudi Arabia has over the years worked diligently to resolve this crisis, earlier this year Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz put forward a bold initiative to revive the stalled peace process. His proposal calls for normalization of relations with Israel and a guarantee of Israel ’s security in return for Israeli withdrawal to its pre-1967 borders and recognition of a Palestinian state. On March 28, 2002 , Arab leaders unanimously adopted the peace plan at the League of Arab States Summit in Beirut , Lebanon . Spurred on by the initiative, the United Nations Security Council on March 30, 2002 , passed resolution 1402 reaffirming its resolutions 242 and 338 calling for an immediate cease-fire and withdrawal of Israeli troops from Palestinian territories.

Crown Prince Abdullah met with U.S. President George W. Bush on April 25, 2002 , in Crawford , Texas , to discuss ways of achieving a just and lasting Mideast peace. He also presented to President Bush a detailed proposal for achieving peace between the Palestinians and Israel .

The Saudi peace initiative brought immediate declarations of support from countries around the world. Below are some examples.

• “The recent Arab League support of Crown Prince Abdullah’s initiative for peace is promising, is hopeful because it acknowledges Israel’s right to exist. And it raises the hope of sustained, constructive Arab involvement in the search for peace.”

            — U.S. President George W. Bush, April 4, 2002

 

 • “I told the Crown Prince how much I appreciate his vision … and how I appreciate his leadership in helping rally the Arab world toward that vision. … [We] will be continuing our discussions, with the hope that our efforts can help return us to the path of peace, a lasting peace.”

            — U.S. President George W. Bush, April 25, 2002

 • “I think Crown Prince Abdullah should be congratulated and thanked for putting this [peace initiative] on the table as a way of breaking through some of the barriers that we now have toward finding a way into the Mitchell peace plan.”

            — U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, March 2, 2002

 

• “To my way of thinking, the only candle that’s flickering here in the midst of all the darkness and violence is the Saudi peace proposal.”

— U.S. Representative Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), April 1, 2002

 

 • The initiative contains “positive and bold ideas on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process at a serious time when violence has reached an unprecedented level.”

            — United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, February 23, 2002

 

 • “This is part of the efforts constantly made by Saudi Arabia , and for which it is thanked, to support the peace process and support Arab states to obtain their rights.”

— Egyptian Foreign Minister, Ahmed Maher, February 19, 2002

 

• “The ideas of Crown Prince Abdullah constitute a clear political vision for the settlement of the Arab-Israeli dispute in a manner that serves all parties.” 

            — Jordanian Foreign Minister Marwan Al-Mashar, February 20, 2002

 

• “For the first time we can see the readiness on the part of a very important Arab country to take a position to encourage peace, and that we welcome.”

— Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, February 25, 2002

 

 • “All good ideas that break the current impasse are welcome.  We are encouraged by this type of initiative.”

            — EU Commission Spokesman Gunnar Wiegand, February 20, 2002

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