Saudis offer peace for Israeli withdrawal
Saudi Arabia's foreign minister has offered Israel 'complete peace from Arab nations' in exchange for Israeli withdrawal from Arab lands and the creation of an independent Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital.
Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal, was speaking to reporters after a meeting in Egypt today with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
He offered the most detailed Saudi comments on the kingdom's overture to Israel since it was first made public last month by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah in a newspaper interview.
Influential moderate Arabs, including Egypt, have welcomed the Saudi proposal as a basis for peacemaking.
It is expected to emerge from an Arab summit later this month as a full-fledged offer to Israel.
Al-Faisal said his kingdom would formally present the proposal at the summit in Beirut, Lebanon.
"Arab nations stress their intention to realise a lasting and comprehensive peace but at the same time Israel must show its good faith toward peace," al-Faisal said today.
