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Saudi prince offers Israel land-for-peace deal
March 27, 2002 Posted: 3:26 PM EST (2026 GMT)
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Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Abdullah
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BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNN) -- Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah called Wednesday for the Arab world to establish "normal relations" with Israel in exchange for the Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories.
A short time after Abdullah's speech, however, the Arab League summit was thrown into confusion when Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was not allowed to address the summit live via satellite.
But Arafat's broadcast was blocked and the host of the summit, Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, adjourned the session.
Members of the Palestinian delegation walked out of the session after learning that the Lebanese wanted Arafat to record his remarks for presentation later.
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RESOURCES
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Arafat's speech was broadcast on the Arabic satellite news network Al-Jazeera.
In his address to the summit, the Saudi crown prince called for the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital and the right of refugees to return. (Speech excerpts)
"Israel, and the world, must understand that peace and the retention of the occupied Arab territories are incompatible and impossible to reconcile or achieve."
Abdullah said if the Israeli government accepts his proposal, Israelis will find that Arabs in the region will quickly accept their right to live in security.
"I would further say to the Israeli people that if their government abandons the policy of force and oppression and embraces true peace, we will not hesitate to accept the right of the Israeli people to live in security with the people of the region," he said.
The crown prince then went on to say, "... I propose that the Arab Summit put forward a clear and unanimous initiative addressed to the United Nations Security Council based on two basic issues: normal relations and security for Israel in exchange for full withdrawal from all occupied Arab territories, recognition of an independent Palestinian state with al-Quds al-Shareef (East Jerusalem) as its capital, and the return of refugees.
"At the same time I appeal to all friendly countries throughout the world to support this noble humanitarian proposal which seeks to remove the danger of destructive wars and the establishment of peace for all the inhabitants of the region, without exception."
The summit got off to a rocky start when 12 Arab leaders, including Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah II, decided not to come.
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