Gary Fitleberg, December 16, 2004

Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom has called for "an international summit" that would give backing to the new Arab "Palestinian" leadership in carrying out reforms.

Speaking at the Herzliya Conference yesterday, Shalom proposed that the summit take the form of the 2003 Aqaba Summit and be attended by the U.S., Israel, the Palestinian Authority/Palestine Liberation Organization (PA/PLO) and Jordan, as well as "any moderate Arab leaders who wish to participate."

Shalom did not coordinate his remarks with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who squashed British plans last month for a similar conference in London. Sharon's bureau hastened to state that "an international conference can take place only after the first stage of the road map is implemented. If it is convened now, this will be interpreted as a renunciation of Israel's demand to fight terror and stop incitement."

Yasser Arafat's death, Shalom said, "has changed the nature and significance of the disengagement plan. What was [once] an Israeli plan without a partner can now be a coordinated plan with a responsible ‘Palestinian’ partner... We must strengthen the Palestinian leadership in all ways possible."

Shalom said Israel should meet its commitments under the road map. "Israel has to do its part, to remove the illegal outposts and to withdraw to the positions held before September 29, 2000," Shalom told the conference.

He called on the Arab "Palestinians" to put an end to terror and to relinquish the demand for the refugees' right to return. He said the Arab "Palestinians" and the donor nations should make efforts to rehabilitate the refugee camps and help their residents have better lives in their current locations.

Shalom also said that Israel should not ignore Syrian peace overtures, and called on Syrian President Bashar Assad to prove his peaceful intentions.

"I say to Assad, `Assad, work to close the terror headquarters in Damascus and you will find us a real partner in peace,'" Shalom said. "Every peace overture from Arab leaders is positive. So we should welcome Assad's call for peace. It is forbidden to turn away the hand of peace."

But Shalom said Israel needs to examine the Syrian offer in detail. "The moment Syria ends its support for terror we must go immediately to the negotiating table," Shalom said.

He said the two countries should implement a series of limited agreements before heading toward a permanent peace deal. "I want to work toward confidence-building measures between Israel and Syria in defined areas like trade, agriculture and the environment."

Shalom said Assad could prove his peaceful intentions by returning the remains of Eli Cohen, the Israeli spy who was executed in Syria on May 18, 1965.

Shalom also said that Israel hopes to establish diplomatic relations with 10 other Arab countries in the coming year.

Gary Fitleberg is a Political Analyst specializing in International Relations with emphasis on Middle East affairs.

Copyright © 2004 Gary Fitleberg