Israel rejects Arab peace initiative

Arab League Secretary General Amr Mussa (L) and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan smile as they leave their hotel prior to the closing session of the 17th Arab Summit in Algiers yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

A final declaration due to be issued at the end of the summit echoes the one released at last year's Tunis conference, pledging Arab support for Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinians' efforts to recover land occupied by Israel.

It also calls on the international community to help back the Arab peace initiative -- a Jordanian proposal based on a Saudi plan submitted and endorsed by the 2002 Beirut summit which Israel had spurned at the time. Israel was quick to reject the offer anew.

A senior official from Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office told AFP that the Arabs were trying "to give this illusion of unity on the surface by adopting resolutions that contradict with all of the advances made, particularly by Egypt and Jordan, which is unacceptable".

"The summit proved it is out of touch with reality and in a delicate situation regarding developments in the Arab world," the official added on, condition of anonymity.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Hani Mulki expressed regret over the remarks and told AFP that Israel's "quick and negative" reaction looks as if "they are not interested in peace, and we hope this is not the case".