Posted on 28-2-2002

Peace Never Found In Barrel Of Oil
From oneworld.net Photo shows Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana has cut short his Israeli tour to fly
to Saudi Arabia and discuss a peace plan proposed earlier this month by
Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz. The simple plan proposes a
normalisation of ties between Israel and the Arab world, in exchange for
Israel's withdrawal from the Occupied Territories. The question now is
whether the Israeli public can stomach such a trade.

Mr Solana travelled to the Saudi port city of Jeddah on Wednesday to
discuss the proposal, which has brought new life to the peace process. He
went armed with the knowledge that US President George Bush had praised the
proposal, and even Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had expressed
interest. After meeting with Mr Sharon on Tuesday, Mr Solana said the
Israeli PM "would be ready to meet anybody from Saudi Arabia, formally,
informally, publicly, discreetly, whatever, to get better information about
this initiative."

Radio Netherlands correspondent Joris Luyendijk 4´00" Radio Netherlands
correspondent Joris Luyendijk says the plan, despite its apparent
straightforwardness, has some problems: "It's not as simple as the Saudis
portray it to be. Specially after 16, 17 months of Intifada the Israeli
electorate is in no mood to consider giving back lots of territories,
because they will see that as a reward to terror."

Other critical points yet to be hammered out include the fate of
Palestinian refugees, and what will happen to the Israeli-occupied parts of
East Jerusalem. Even the enthusiasm of Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon
Peres is less encouraging than it might be, given that he is losing sway
within the government. "Peres' position within his party is getting weaker
by the day," Luyendijk says. From the Arab point of view, recognition of
Israel would lead to open borders, embassies, air routes, and ultimately
beneficial economic interaction. The Saudis have proposed the plan for two
main reasons, according to Luyendijk. The first is that American criticism
of Saudi Arabia following the September 11 terrorist attacks – 15 of the 19
hijackers were Saudis - has threatened its special military relationship
with the US. Secondly, the Palestinian uprising may spread: "The Saudis are
seriously worried about what's going on in the [Occupied] Territories, that
the conflict may spill over to Jordan and possible Lebanon, Syria, and
would suck the whole region into, possibly, a war."

Mr Solana's visit is important in that the EU is regarded as more impartial
than the US, hence better able to facilitate any possible deal. "In the end
it has to be the Americans that deliver, but it seems the Europeans can
push a little harder . . . because the Israeli lobby is not as strong in
European capitals as it is in Washington. So the Europeans are closer to
the Arabs."

Other impediments to the plan may come from within the Arab world itself.
Syria and Egypt both regard themselves as leaders of the Arab nations, and
will not want to lose this position because of a diplomatic coup by Saudi
Arabia. In particular, a united Arab front will undermine Egypt's
influential status in the region.