Saudi Arabia\'s Ambassador to the United Nations, speaking at the UN last night about the situation in Judea and Samaria, did not mention what has come to be known as the new Saudi peace initiative. Floated in the New York Times last week, the plan calls for Arab recognition of, and normalized relations with, Israel in exchange for a total withdrawal from all of Judea, Samaria, the Golan and Gaza. Surprisingly, the Saudi speaker did not even mention the plan, and instead harshly attacked Israel.
Yossi Ben-Aharon, who served as former Prime Minister Yitzchak Shamir\'s Office chief, reminded Arutz-7 listeners today that Saudi Arabia has pulled this trick once before: \"After the Gulf War, the Saudis floated similar hints of a peace plan. Then-Defense Secretary James Baker and Dennis Ross told Shamir excitedly that the Saudis, who were happy about being saved from Iraq, said that they now know that the Palestinians are their enemies and that the potential exists for diplomatic relations with Israel. Shamir was a bit skeptical, but he said, \'Let\'s check.\' He sent then-Justice Minister Dan Meridor to Washington to meet with a Saudi prince to learn more. But when Meridor arrived, the prince said he was sick... Meridor soon realized that it was a type of \"diplomatic\" sickness - the Prince appeared in public around the same time - and that there would be no meeting, and that was the end of the Saudi initiative.\"
Yossi Ben-Aharon, who served as former Prime Minister Yitzchak Shamir\'s Office chief, reminded Arutz-7 listeners today that Saudi Arabia has pulled this trick once before: \"After the Gulf War, the Saudis floated similar hints of a peace plan. Then-Defense Secretary James Baker and Dennis Ross told Shamir excitedly that the Saudis, who were happy about being saved from Iraq, said that they now know that the Palestinians are their enemies and that the potential exists for diplomatic relations with Israel. Shamir was a bit skeptical, but he said, \'Let\'s check.\' He sent then-Justice Minister Dan Meridor to Washington to meet with a Saudi prince to learn more. But when Meridor arrived, the prince said he was sick... Meridor soon realized that it was a type of \"diplomatic\" sickness - the Prince appeared in public around the same time - and that there would be no meeting, and that was the end of the Saudi initiative.\"