Could Israel be taking the so-called Saudi Arabian peace proposal seriously? The New York Times reported last week that Saudi Prince Abdullah had expressed verbal support for a plan under which the entire Arab world would make peace in exchange for Israel\'s withdrawal from every inch of Judea, Samaria, and Gaza - including the Old City of Jerusalem. Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer told visiting Sen. Hillary Clinton, \"If the plan can bring peace to the Middle East, then we must say yes… Note that the Saudis did not mention the Right of Return…\" Justice Minister Meir Shetreet proposed today that Prince Abdullah be invited to Israel.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia\'s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh, the country\'s highest religious authority, condemned Israel today in an address to some two million Muslim worshipers on the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca). The millions heard the spiritual authority condemn Israel\'s \"killing of innocent Palestinians.\"