THE MIDDLE EAST: After the speeches opening today's summit, the Arab rulers will consider in closed sessions a Saudi proposal for peace between the Arab states and Israel.
This calls for complete Israeli withdrawal from the Arab territories occupied in June 1967, the creation of a West Bank-Gaza Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and a "just solution to the problem of Palestinian refugees". In exchange, the Arabs will negotiate a comprehensive peace, declare an end to the Arab-Israel conflict, and "establish normal relations with Israel".
Dr Nabil Shaath, the Palestinian minister of international co-operation, told The Irish Times: "The proposal constitutes the best terms of reference for our political struggle, while we resist occupation. It is better than [Security Council] Resolution 242 and better than the Madrid formula. The issues of final borders, settlements, Jerusalem and water are all solved. The only item that is not mentioned is refugees" which is covered by the final point.
He dismissed Israeli concerns: "We do not want to dump 3.6 million Palestinians on their heads. Resolution 194 speaks of the freedom of return, not a requirement of return. It is an option. According to the present peace process, implementation of this right is subject to negotiation; 194 was accepted by the Israelis at Camp David and Taba" - before the Israeli election which made Mr Ariel Sharon prime minister.
Dr Shaath observed that Mr Sharon refused to allow the Palestinian President, Mr Yasser Arafat, to attend the summit because "Sharon is still fighting the war of 1982" when he occupied Lebanon and made a pull back from Beirut conditional on Mr Arafat's expulsion from the country. "Arafat's return would amount to defiance of Sharon."
Miriam Donohoe, Asia Corrrespondent adds:
The Israeli Foreign Minister, Mr Shimon Peres, said in China yesterday an agreement on Middle East ceasefire terms could clear the way for Mr Arafat to attend the Arab summit in Lebanon.
Mr Peres said the Saudi plan for peace offered a "vision" of the way forward: "Clearly we have to negotiate."
He said the problem with the Saudi proposal was that "we don't know exactly with whom we have to negotiate. Right now, in our place, there is a tunnel without a light. The Saudi proposal is a light without a tunnel. Nobody knows how to reach it."
China told Israel that its restrictions on Mr Arafat breached the norms of international law.