#Netanyahu and new Defence Minister Lieberman endorse peace talks based on revised Arab Peace Initiative

Minutes after being sworn in as Israel’s new Defense Minister on Monday night (30 May), Avigdor Lieberman appeared at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said: “I remain committed to making peace with the Palestinians and with all our neighbours. The Arab Peace Initiative includes positive elements that can help revive constructive negotiations with the Palestinians.’’

‘’We are willing to negotiate with the Arab states revisions to that initiative so that it reflects the dramatic changes in the region since 2002, but maintains the agreed goal of two states for two peoples,’’ he added.

The 2002 Arab peace initiative refers to a Saudi-spearheaded plan, which would see a pan-Arab rapprochement with Israel, in return for the establishment of a Palestinian state. Israeli leaders have typically been circumspect over its details. It called for normalizing relations between Arab countries and Israel, in exchange for a complete withdrawal by Israel to pre-1967 lines.

Lieberman said: “I listened to everything you [Netanyahu] said and I absolutely agree with every word, including two states for two peoples,” recognising that there had been “a lot of speculation about what the policy of the government would be”. Lieberman added: “I absolutely agree that the Arab [Peace] initiative also has some very, very positive elements that enable a serious dialogue with all our neighbours in the region.”

Both Netanyahu and Lieberman praised Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for his recent public call to renew peace talks. The Egyptian leader has offered his assistance in helping Israelis and Palestinians reach a peace agreement.

Netanyahu’s statements on the possibility of a regional peace based on the Arab Initiative cae as this coming Friday Foreign Ministers from some of some 20 countries, including the United States, Russia and Germany, as well as a handful of Arab states, will gather in Paris to discuss ways to restart the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Israeli officials this week refused to speak on record about their preparations ahead of the confab, but in private conversations indicated that Jerusalem is against the initiative, has not been invited to it, and is therefore not doing anything about it.

Meanwhile, a senior Likud Member of the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, Tzachi Hanegbi,  has been appointed Minister without Portfolio in the Prime Minister’s Office and will deal with foreign affairs and defense issues.

He will be involved in new regional diplomatic initiatives Netanyahu intends to advance in coming weeks. He is the Likud’s most dovish Minister.

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