Arab foreign ministers agreed on Saturday to relaunch an offer of normal ties with Israel after presenting specific conditions which Tel Aviv had repeatedly rejected in the past, ministers said. Jordan had tried to simplify the offer to make it more appealing to public opinion in Israel.
But other foreign ministers, meeting to prepare for an Arab summit in Algiers next week, insisted that the offer make clear that normal ties depended on Israeli steps including withdrawal from land occupied since 1967.
Earlier, Jordanian Foreign Minster Hani Mulki was "astonished" by the turmoil sparked on the Jordanian draft resolution. "We emphasize on regaining the Arab rights. On the other hand, the Arabs should be ready to establish diplomatic ties and comprehensive peace with Israel. There would be no normalization with Israel if the Arabs didn't regain their rights", Mulki reaffirmed.
"They want to add untrue things to the Jordanian draft resolution", said Mulki, adding in a press statement on the sideline of Arab League foreign ministers the Jordanian draft resolution is clear and seeks to support Arab peace initiative and it does not change any articles stipulated in the Arab peace initiative.
Mulki pointed out that the aim of Jordanian draft resolution is rephrasing the "Arab peace initiative" in brief words instead of two pages as it was declared in Beirut Summit.
Mulki noted that the draft resolution starts with Arab leaders affirmation on Arab peace initiative and the implementation of international legitimacy.
