Moussa: Israel 'not serious' about peace negotiations
By JPOST.COM STAFF
LAST UPDATED: 05/24/2011 11:29
Egyptian president hopeful Amr Moussa tells CNN Israel should adopt Arab Peace Initiative, seize opportunity of changing Arab world.
Egyptian Arab League Chief Amr Moussa Photo: REUTERS/Abdallah Dalsh
Egyptian
presidential likely Amr Moussa said that the Israeli refusal to
negotiate a peaceful settlement with a Palestinian government that
includes Hamas is illegitimate. He said that the current Israeli
leadership "is not serious" about negotiating with any Palestinian
faction.
Speaking to CNN's Fareed Zakaria, Moussa said that Prime
Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has to "take into consideration that the
Arab world is changing," and that the new Arab leadership will not
represent the old status quo. He said now is the time for the Israeli
government to "seize this opportunity."
Moussa reiterated his support for the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative (API) that was
proposed by then-Crown Prince King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and called
for a complete withdrawal from all "occupied territories" including east
Jerusalem, as well as a settlement to the Palestinian crisis that would allow
any Palestinian wishing to "return to their homes and live at peace with
their neighbors" the right to do so.
RELATED:
Moussa vows tough Israel policy if elected president
Amr Moussa: Islamists won't take power in Egypt
According to Moussa, even though Israel's adoption of the API would ensure normalization with, and recognition by the entire
Arab world, Israel "never took seriously or even considered" the
option.
Moussa said that if he were elected Egyptian president, he would
completely adopt the platform, saying that "We are ready to implement
our part of the deal. We invite you to implement your part of the deal."