Egypt?s press, like that of much of the Arab world, has dealt at length with the thoughts on Israeli ? Arab peace that Saudi Arabia?s Crown Prince Abdullah expressed to New York Times. What is being treated as a ?Saudi Initiative? throughout the world is seen by much of the Egyptian press as a true test of Israeli intentions, a test Israel has failed. As the Egyptian Gazette editorial sees it, ?The initiative is so clear-cut and substantial that it warrants a monosyllable answer: Yes or No.?
An al-Wafd editorial recognizes that ?[a]lthough the initiative is neither new nor the only one on the scene at present, it has been very well-timed and necessary.? The initiative, in the view of the author, ?reflected the Arab desire for peace.? It is a view shared by the editor of the Egyptian Gazette as well, ?The bid provides yet fresh evidence of Arabs' interest in comprehensive and fair peace.? Not only that, but ?the peace initiative recently tabled by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah is a life-line, if any could be perceived, for both Israel and the US,? according to an editorial in the semi-official al-Ahram newspaper. Similarly, the Egyptian Gazette declares that Israelis must appreciate the situation: ?Seventeen months of a ruthless clampdown? The Palestinians are as defiant as ever. Meanwhile, Israel's vulnerability is increasing.?
In particular, the formal presentation of the plan at the Arab League Summit in Beirut, opines the columnist, is an opportunity for the Arab world to take address ?the world at large and the Israeli public opinion in particular.? The Egyptian editorialist believes, ?We need to set the Israelis right, especially after being long held hostage by Sharon, who has convinced them that the Palestinians are nothing but hooligans and murderers; that Arabs are behind them, with encouragement and applause, every time they hear about a suicide operation in which Israeli blood has been spilt.?
Commenting on the Israeli response to the ?initiative,? the al-Wafd author calls it ?an opportunity to maneuver its way out of a solution and to dictate its terms and conditions,? continuing, the Arab fear is that ?Israel would turn its back to it as it has with all other peace initiatives in the past.? The Egyptian Gazette editorial calls Israeli reactions ?exploitative,? saying that Israeli officials are treating it like ?a public relations gimmick.? Prime Minister Sharon?s offer to meet with Saudi representatives to discuss the plan, the article continues, is a suggestion that ?has a propagandist purpose, which threatens to make nonsense of a serious effort to bring the region back from the brink.? The Israeli offers to meet with Saudi officials are not mere political football, according to the Gazette, but rather ?[o]ne sinister aim is to drive a wedge between Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries.?
The Egyptian Gazette accuses Israel of an impossible intransigence retroactive to 1948 in its holding on to the territories captured in 1967. ?For more than five decades, Israel has been eager to get recognition from Arab neighbors,? the editorial states, ?but it has been reluctant to pay the price.? Paying ?the price? of full withdrawal from the areas Israel conquered in 1967, as called for in the ?Saudi initiative?, the Gazette concludes, is Israel?s ?opportunity to bury the hatchet with the Arabs.? If the Israelis fail to seize this ?moment of truth,? the Egyptian Gazette concludes, ?they and the rest of the region have to brace themselves for more suffering and animosities.?
An al-Wafd editorial recognizes that ?[a]lthough the initiative is neither new nor the only one on the scene at present, it has been very well-timed and necessary.? The initiative, in the view of the author, ?reflected the Arab desire for peace.? It is a view shared by the editor of the Egyptian Gazette as well, ?The bid provides yet fresh evidence of Arabs' interest in comprehensive and fair peace.? Not only that, but ?the peace initiative recently tabled by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah is a life-line, if any could be perceived, for both Israel and the US,? according to an editorial in the semi-official al-Ahram newspaper. Similarly, the Egyptian Gazette declares that Israelis must appreciate the situation: ?Seventeen months of a ruthless clampdown? The Palestinians are as defiant as ever. Meanwhile, Israel's vulnerability is increasing.?
In particular, the formal presentation of the plan at the Arab League Summit in Beirut, opines the columnist, is an opportunity for the Arab world to take address ?the world at large and the Israeli public opinion in particular.? The Egyptian editorialist believes, ?We need to set the Israelis right, especially after being long held hostage by Sharon, who has convinced them that the Palestinians are nothing but hooligans and murderers; that Arabs are behind them, with encouragement and applause, every time they hear about a suicide operation in which Israeli blood has been spilt.?
Commenting on the Israeli response to the ?initiative,? the al-Wafd author calls it ?an opportunity to maneuver its way out of a solution and to dictate its terms and conditions,? continuing, the Arab fear is that ?Israel would turn its back to it as it has with all other peace initiatives in the past.? The Egyptian Gazette editorial calls Israeli reactions ?exploitative,? saying that Israeli officials are treating it like ?a public relations gimmick.? Prime Minister Sharon?s offer to meet with Saudi representatives to discuss the plan, the article continues, is a suggestion that ?has a propagandist purpose, which threatens to make nonsense of a serious effort to bring the region back from the brink.? The Israeli offers to meet with Saudi officials are not mere political football, according to the Gazette, but rather ?[o]ne sinister aim is to drive a wedge between Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries.?
The Egyptian Gazette accuses Israel of an impossible intransigence retroactive to 1948 in its holding on to the territories captured in 1967. ?For more than five decades, Israel has been eager to get recognition from Arab neighbors,? the editorial states, ?but it has been reluctant to pay the price.? Paying ?the price? of full withdrawal from the areas Israel conquered in 1967, as called for in the ?Saudi initiative?, the Gazette concludes, is Israel?s ?opportunity to bury the hatchet with the Arabs.? If the Israelis fail to seize this ?moment of truth,? the Egyptian Gazette concludes, ?they and the rest of the region have to brace themselves for more suffering and animosities.?