U.S.-Arab Joint Statement Backs 1949 Borders

(IsraelNN.com) The Bush administration has continued to erode its previous pro-Israel stance and joined in an Arab statement Tuesday night backing the Saudi 2002 Initiative. The plan calls on Israel to hand over all of Judea, Samaria and Gaza to the Palestinian Authority (PA) and to allow the immigration of more than five million Arabs living in other countries.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has announced that the Saudi plan can serve as a basis for negotiations, and the United States previously has stated that Israel should retain large populated areas. However, Tuesday night's statement at Sharm El-Sheikh omits any conditions obstructing the Saudi plan.

The statement was made at the conclusion of meeting between Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Egypt, Jordan, and the U.S. It states their "commitment to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict" on the foundation of United Nations resolutions "and the Arab Peace Initiative, to end the occupation since 1967 and establish a Palestinian state that is viable and contiguous and living in peace and security with all its neighbors."

The declaration also states, "Participants denounced all acts of violence and called for law and order under the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Gaza." No specific mention was made of terrorist attacks against Israel.