Arab Peace Initiative – Statement by H.R.H. Prince Saud al Faisal – Non-UN document

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Statement on the Arab Peace Initiative

By H.R.H Prince Saud al Faisal

Chairman of Arab Peace Initiative Committee

Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia

In His meeting with EU Ministers

Brussels, 14 May 2007

 

Mr. President,

 

Your Excellencies,

 

 Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Thank you for granting my colleagues in the Arab League Committee for the Peace Initiative, and my self, this opportunity to discuss this plan with you, and the feasible options for its successful and timely implementation.

 

The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, and by extension, the Arab-Israeli Conflict, is the oldest and most persistent source for tension and instability. It has caused five major destructive wars. No crisis anywhere has greater potential to affect world peace than this conflict.

 

All previous attempts to resolve this conflict have been to no avail. A major reason has been the avoidance of an overall comprehensive solution. All efforts up to the present have concentrated on partial procedural and piecemeal measures, with unachievable conditions imposed on the Palestinian people. 

 

Even the minimal agreements reached were devoid of clear and definite steps in accordance with a well defined time table that is monitored by neutral observers on the ground that can verify any deviation from the original course and provide appropriate sanctions. Therefore they failed. 

 

Furthermore, there has been, and still is, a lack of seriousness of purpose on the part of the international community.

 

Underlying all these causes is the continuous intransigence and absence of good faith on the part of the Israeli Government. Instead of an honest quest for peace, Israel continues flagrantly, to confiscate more Palestinian land and persists in its daily humiliation of the population; building settlements, walls, and check points. These acts constitute collective punishment and are illegal according to the Geneva Convention.

 

This makes it impossible for any Palestinian Government to function effectively, let alone to take the needed difficult decisions, or to convince Palestinians that the other side is truly committed to peace.

We believe that you and the International Community have a legal obligation, a moral duty, and a practical advantage in bringing this conflict to an end.

 

When the International Court of Justice issued its advisory opinion concerning the illegality of the barrier wall, it invoked the International Law principle of Erga Omnes, declaring that all States should see to it that Israel complies with International law as to its humanitarian obligations and Palestinian self-determination.

 

In this third millennium, the international community cannot morally remain an idle spectator, indifferent and unresponsive to what goes on in the occupied territories.

 

This inaction is bound to create mistrust and leave a bitter taste of double standards and loss of credibility. What is needed is a consistent egalitarian moral standard applicable to all; otherwise we suffer the consequence of living in a moral dilemma.

 

The Preamble of The European Union Charter is relevant in this context, and is clear about its objectives where it states that: “the Union is founded on the indivisible, universal values of human dignity, freedom, equality and solidarity; it is based on the principles of democracy and the rule of law”.

 

From a practical point of view, ending this conflict will diminish most of the woes and tribulations that face our world today, including the two evils of extremism and terrorism. 

 

We are now at a critical crossroad. The present state of affairs cannot continue. There is a need for a new fresh start to overcome this moribund state of affair.

 

The Arab Peace Initiative is a historical mile- stone.  All the Arab Governments, including the present Palestinian Government, have unanimously reconfirmed this commitment at the last Arab Summit in Riyadh. For the first time, The Arab States commit to a collective offer to end the conflict with Israel and offer normalization.

 

The Initiative envisions entering into a peace agreement with Israel that provides security for all states of the region that would be assured not only by neighboring Arab States, but by all Arab States, with appropriate guarantees by the United Nations.

 

Excellencies; Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Permit me to address a common elaborate myth. Israel makes much of the issue of security; where is this threat that is being mentioned repeatedly? The reason for the recent war in Lebanon was the kidnapping of two soldiers. This resulted in the destruction of a whole country. If this action and reaction become the norm, then the World is surely in deep trouble.

 

Where are the armies arrayed against Israel? The only conceivable threat would be that emanating from the occupied Palestinian Territory. Once the issue of Israel’s security is viewed from this perspective, we immediately see the absurdity of this security fabrication.

A simple comparison between the military might of Israel and the feeble military resources of the Palestinians will indicate this very clearly.

 

Violence begets violence, and by now, it should be clear to the Israeli Government, after decades of military actions to quash a legitimate resistance to occupation, that no military solution can be successful, and the only path to full security is peace.

It is unrealistic to impose a condition on the occupied Palestinians, who have the legitimate right of resistance under the United Nation’s Charter, to renounce violence or face punishment and sanctions, while at the same time refrain from asking Israel to renounce violence though it is the occupier.

 

Returning to the terms of the Arab Initiative, they are extremely serious powerful pledges by all Arab States which should not be ignored. They reflect the strategic option for peace.

 

In his introduction of the Initiative in the Beirut Summit of 2002, King Abdullah, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, directly addressed the Israeli People and succinctly summarized the essence of the peace proposal, and I quote: 

“The use of violence, for more than fifty years, has only resulted in more violence and destruction, and the Israeli people are as far as they have ever been from security and peace, not withstanding military superiority and despite efforts to subdue and oppress. Peace emanates from the heart and mind, and not from the barrel of a cannon, or the exploding warhead of a missile.

The time has come for Israel to put its trust in peace after it has gambled on war for decades without success. Israel, and the world, must understand that peace and the retention of the occupied Arab territories are incompatible and impossible to reconcile or achieve.

I would further say to the Israeli people that if their government abandons the policy of force and oppression and embraces true peace, we will not hesitate to accept the right of the Israeli people to live in security with the people of the region”.

 

In order to resolve the conflict, there is a need for an even handed honest broker enjoying integrity and fairness.

 

We believe that the European Union, in conjunction with the United States and the rest of the Quartet, would be an excellent candidate for this role.

 

The Union can work with us by adopting our Initiative and by joining us to seek its implementation within the International Community.

 

Time is of the essence. In the words of a famous Christian hymn in the 19th century, “Once to every, man and nation, comes the moment to decide”. That moment is upon us. That moment is the imperative NOW.

 

Again; thank you for giving me this opportunity to be here today.