2002 Arab League summit

Arab League Summit
Host country	Lebanon
Date	March 28, 2002(2002-03-28)
Cities	Beirut

TheBeirut Summit(also known as theArab Summit Conference) was a meeting of theArab LeagueinBeirut,Lebanon,in March 2002 to discuss theIsraeli–Palestinian conflict.At the timeYasser Arafat,the Leader of Palestine, was under house-arrest in hisRamallahcompound. The Israeli forces confined him and prevented him from attending the Beirut Summit.

The meeting became especially noteworthy for the adoption, by the Arab states attending, of a proposal offering a comprehensive peace between the Arab countries andIsrael,called theArab Peace Initiative.

Arab Peace Initiative

Main article:Arab Peace Initiative

The Arab Peace Initiativewas floated by then acting Saudi regentCrown Prince Abdullahas a potential solution to both theIsraeli–Palestinian conflictand theArab–Israeli conflict.It was published on March 28, 2002, during the meeting of theArab Leagueat the Beirut Summit and achieved the unanimous consent of all members of the Arab League.

Considered as a progressive proposal, it calls for the state ofIsraelto withdraw all its forces from all the Occupied Territories, including theGolan Heights,to officially recognize "an independentPalestinian statewithEast Jerusalemas its capital "in theWest BankandGaza Strip,as well as a "just solution" for thePalestinian refugees.In exchange the Arab states affirmed that they would recognize the state ofIsrael,consider the Arab-Israeli conflict over and establish "normal relations"with Israel.

The initiative is based upon:

• The principle ofland for peace.
• The conviction of the Arab countries that a military solution to the conflict will not achieve peace or provide security for the parties.

The proposal, fromSaudi Arabia,offered Israel recognition by the Arab countries, including into Peace agreements and normalization of relations if Israel would:

• withdraw from all territories occupied by Israel since the 1967Six-Day War,
• provide a just solution to thePalestinian refugee problem,and
• recognize the establishment of asovereignandindependentPalestinian statein theWest BankandGaza Strip.

The goals of the initiative are:

• Full Israeli withdrawal from all the Arab territories occupied since June 1967.
• Implementation ofUnited Nations Security Councilresolutions 242and338.
• The establishment of an independent Palestinian state, withEast Jerusalemas its capital.
• A just solution to thePalestinian Refugee problem,to be agreed upon in accordance with section 11 ofUN General Assembly Resolution 194.
• The normalization of relations in the context of a comprehensive Peace.

Jordan's Foreign Minister stated:

The Arab initiative put forth at the Beirut Summit in March offers comprehensive peace in the region based on the internationally recognized formulation of "land for peace" – a return to June 4, 1967, borders in exchange for normal relations and a collective peace treaty.

In response, Israeli Foreign MinisterShimon Pereswelcomed it and said: "... the details of every peace plan must be discussed directly between Israel and the Palestinians, and to make this possible, thePalestinian Authoritymust put an end to terror, the horrifying expression of which we witnessed just last night in Netanya, "referring toNetanya suicide attackperpetrated on previous evening which the Beirut Summit has failed to address.

The somewhat obscure 4th section was inserted at Lebanese insistence and reflects its concern that the settlement of the refugee problem not be at what it considers the expense ofLebanonand its "demographic balance."

LebanonandSyriacampaigned for the inclusion of a reference to United Nations Resolution 194, which emphasizes thePalestinian right of returnto Israel. A compromise was eventually reached, citing the resolution but stating that the League would support any agreement between Israel and Palestinians on the issue.

Arab–Israeli peace diplomacy and treaties

• Paris Peace Conference, 1919
• Faisal–Weizmann Agreement(1919)
• 1949 Armistice Agreements
• Camp David Accords (1978)
• Egypt–Israel peace treaty(1979)
• Madrid Conference of 1991
• Oslo Accords(1993)
• Israel–Jordan peace treaty(1994)
• Camp David 2000 Summit
• Israeli–Palestinian peace process
• Projects working for peace among Israelis and Arabs
• List of Middle East peace proposals
• International law and the Arab–Israeli conflict

External links

• "Text of Arab peace initiative adopted at Beirut summit".Archived from the original on 2008-10-17.Retrieved2006-10-21.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
• "Beirut Declaration on Saudi Peace Initiative".Archived from the original on 2007-05-09.Retrieved2017-06-17.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)