The diplomatic and political moves in the Middle East are being intensified before the peace conference scheduled to be held in Annapolis late this month. Those moves are aimed at having this peace conference a success, despite obstacles confronting it.

As part of those moves Ehud Olmert Israeli Prime Minister is to leave today for Sharm El-Sheikh to meet with President Hosni Mubarak before the Annapolis meeting, according to a statement by an Israeli official yesterday.

In fact, Egypt has made clear its stance concerning Annapolis conference, when President Mubarak received Javier Solana EU Chief Foreign Policy and Security Commissioner recently.

The Egyptian stance stressed that Annapolis peace conference should be based on clear bases, according to the rules of the international law, the United Nations resolutions and the security council resolution 242 and that the basic matter is the 1967 borders along with the UN General Assembly resolution like that of 194 on the Palestine refugees as well as the Arab peace initiative which talked about land for peace but the roadmap plan is only sort of a mechanism for implementation.

The stance of Egypt also included the need to stop Israeli settlements construction, putting an end to all tension out of settlements building, the reopening of the Palestinian venues in East Jerusalem closed by Israel during the Intifada in addition to cancelling Israeli check points which restricted Palestinians movement inside the West Bank.

Egypt affirmed that all such demands are crucial for the launching of the peace process. Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit said if Annapolis conference would achieve the goal of the establishment of the Palestinian state, let's all go to this conference for this end, but if this conference will not achieve this goal, I believe that Egypt, Arab countries and the rest of members of the International Quartet would have reservations concerning taking part in this conference.

This Egyptian clear stance is stressed by Egyptian leaders during talks with any party concerned with the Palestinian issue, as the political evasiveness would not work out any longer and it would further complicate the Palestinian crisis.

As a matter of fact, the expectations ceiling of Annapolis meeting kept lowering as nothing has been reached till yesterday on the joint document following which an agreement on its items be agreed upon by the Palestinians and Israelis, so as it could be tackled by the Annapolis meeting.

Ahmed Qurai Palestinian chief negotiator said yesterday he will not make more talks with Israeli Foreign Minister as Saturday talks achieved nothing concerning this joint document.
In light of the results of Abbas and Olmert talks it is most likely that Arab countries would take up a joint stance concerning taking part in Annapolis peace conference.

Al Ahram

November 21, 2007