2007年VOA标准英语-Arab League Delegation to Make Unprecedented Vi

The Arab League is sending a delegation¹ to Israel this week for the first time. As Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem, the 22-nation organization is pushing a new initiative for Mideast peace.

The visit of the Arab League delegation to Israel is a sign of deep concern about the violent takeover of the Gaza Strip last month by the Islamic militant² group Hamas.

Moderate Arab states want to push Israel to revive peace talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who heads a western-backed government in the West Bank. They believe that negotiations³ on the creation of a Palestinian state could prevent a similar takeover of the West Bank by Hamas.

So the foreign ministers of Egypt and Jordan will visit Israel this week on behalf of the Arab League to discuss what is known as the Arab peace initiative. It calls for all Arab states to establish full diplomatic ties with Israel in exchange for a full Israeli withdrawal⁴ to the 1967 borders.

Israel rejects that demand because it would mean giving up Jerusalem's Old City and all West Bank settlements. But Israeli officials say the visit of the Arab League delegation is "historic."

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni

But after the forces of Mr. Abbas were routed by Hamas in Gaza, many Israelis believe handing him major concessions⁶ would be a grave mistake. Israel TV journalist Yohanan El Rom says Mr. Abbas did not abide⁷ by the internationally-backed "Roadmap" peace plan, so he should not be rewarded with a Palestinian state.

"He is a leader of the Palestinian Authority in name only. He is weak, he has not kept his promises, the first item on the Roadmap was to dismantle⁸ the terrorist infrastructure⁹, he did not do it," said El Rom.  "He is reaping now his inaction. He is a failure as a leader."

President Abbas is also pushing for peace talks with Israel, saying the hope of a Palestinian state will improve his standing¹⁰ among his people and show them the benefits of moderation. But Hamas, which seeks Israel's destruction, says Mr. Abbas is an illegitimate leader and any negotiations with him are doomed¹¹ to failure.

Israeli officials say Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is to meet with Mr. Abbas next week. The exact date and location of the meeting has not been announced.