30 March 2007
The Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has offered Israel the "hand of peace'' at the Arab League summit in the Saudi capital Riyadh, as all countries pledged to recognize Israel if it returns the land captured in the Six Day War of 1967. All 22 Arab states formally adopted the Saudi peace initiative as a blueprint for normalizing ties with Israel and ending the Middle East conflict. Abbas told Arab leaders that this was an historic moment. "We renounce violence in all its forms and manifestations because we were the first victims of violence,'' he said, adding: "I repeat the sincerity of the Palestinian will in extending the hand of peace to the Israeli people. With the support of the Arab countries, we must not lose any chance to put an end to this historic problem.''
Meanwhile, Israel's deputy prime minister Shimon Peres has indicated that while Israel would welcome parts of the Saudi plan, it could not be imposed by "dictat". Peres told Israel's 'Army Radio': “I would say this: Let's conduct negotiations. You come with your positions, and we will come with ours."
