Arab League Endorses Two-State Solution, Again

JERUSALEM, Israel – Arab League member nations affirmed their support for the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, which calls for a two-state solution based on the pre-1949 armistice lines in exchange for reconciliation with Israel.

The 28th Arab League Summit took place Wednesday in Jordan.

Israeli officials have said the 2002 initiative could provide a basis for negotiations with the Palestinian Authority, but with adjustments.

The initiative calls on Israel to cede all territory acquired during the 1967 Six-Day War – Judea, Samaria, the Golan Heights, and the Jordan Valley – and to divide Jerusalem as it was during the Jordanian occupation from 1949 to 1967. The P.A. claim eastern Jerusalem as the capital of a future state.

On the eve of the summit, U.S. Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt met with Abbas. Greenblatt also held meetings with Egypt and Qatar's foreign ministers and with the E.U. foreign policy chief on the sidelines of the summit.

In his remarks, Abbas said the 2002 initiative as originally written is the only path to peace.  
                 
"We reaffirm that it is not worthwhile in terms of peace and justice for some to talk about... manipulating the essence of the Arab Peace Initiative," Abbas said. "We want it to be implemented as it was in 2002, without amendments."

Abbas called on Israel to "end the occupation and stop preventing Palestinians from achieving independence on their lands."

Jordan's King Abdullah II affirmed his support of a two-state solution and his opposition to any changes in the status quo on the Temple Mount, which forbids prayer by Jews, Christians or any other non-Muslims.

Abdullah and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi have been invited to the White House in April. Abbas is also expected to visit Washington sometime soon.