Israel Matzav: Report: Arab League to reject 'proximity talks' proposal unless US guarantees 'east' Jerusalem freeze

Report: Arab League to reject 'proximity talks' proposal unless US guarantees 'east' Jerusalem freeze

Earlier, I reported that Israel has agreed to a de facto building freeze in 'east' Jerusalem and that 'moderate' 'Palestinian' President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen says that he's ready for 'proximity talks,' provided, of course, that the Arab League approves them in its May 1 (Saturday) meeting.

Now, there's a Syrian report that claims that approval may not be forthcoming.

The Arab League is expected to reject the Obama administration's proposal to begin indirect Middle East peace negotiations in the coming weeks, sources from the 22-state body Syria's Al-Watan daily on Tuesday.

The league's Monitoring Committee for the Arab Peace Initiative is scheduled to meet on Saturday to vote on the proposal, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is unlikely to accept any offer for peace talks that does not meet the panel's approval.

Business Week reports that the Arab League is holding out for a full freeze (not a de facto freeze) in 'east' Jerusalem guaranteed by the United States.

The Arab League will only support new Middle East peace talks if the U.S. guarantees there is a freeze on Israeli construction in east Jerusalem, the spokesman for Secretary-General Amre Moussa said.

...

“We have heard lots of stories about freezes,” Moussa’s spokesman, Hisham Youssef, said in phone interview. “We will wait for U.S. guarantees before deciding to support the talks.”

The Arab League endorsed peace talks on March 3, providing Abbas with political cover to take part. The next day, Israel announced expanded construction in east Jerusalem and negotiation plans evaporated.

“We were burned before and we don’t want to be burned again,” Youssef said.

What does a US guarantee mean? Do they want Obama to put US troops on the ground here to enforce it? That's insane. It sounds like the Arab League is taking advice from Samantha Power.

UPDATE 5:25 PM

Eight of the factions represented in the 'Palestinian Authority' have also rejected the talks.

Israel Matzav: Report: Arab League to reject 'proximity talks' proposal unless US guarantees 'east' Jerusalem freeze