On Thu, 28 Mar 2002, Marvin Long, Jr. wrote: > > No, there is most certainly not. No proposal exists from any one Arab > state, much less all. All that exists is a loose *outline* for a proposal > floated by the Saudis, which no Arab nation has so far agreed to accept.
Hmm, looks like the Arab Summit was working while I was typing. Apparently the Arab League has unanimously endorsed a declaration (full text here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30181-2002Mar28.html ) I see a certain amount of weaseling here. Chiefly, Israel's obligations are spelled out, but not the Arabs'. It says, "Israel must do 1,2,3, and as a result we Arabs will enter a peace agreement." But "a peace agreement" is undefined; the terms of peace (which might impose upon Arabs things like putting a stop to state-sponsored anti-Semitic propaganda, and committing the state to putting an end to terrorism by ostensibly private groups) are undefined. In other words, the mechanics of peace are laid out for Israel, but they are not specified for the Arab signatories, a major flaw. Still, maybe this gesture (which is all it is at this point) can help kick-start some real negotiations. Marvin Long Austin, Texas
