Rice: Unrealistic to expect Arabs to immediately reach out to Israel

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
It is unrealistic to expect Arab leaders to suddenly reach out to Israel, their historic enemy, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday. "Some of this will happen over time," Rice told reporters aboard Air Force One, en route to Kuwait. "There isn't going to be a blinding flash in any of this, not on this trip, not on the next trip. But this is a process that is moving forward." "The Arab states took a big step in coming to Annapolis" where Bush brought together Israelis, Palestinians and other officials to launch the first peace negotiations in seven years, Rice said. She added that as talks move forward between Israelis and Palestinians, the "Arabs will do more and more."