Arab leaders, on U.S. visits, put onus on Israel

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By Matt Spetalnick Matt Spetalnick – Mon Aug 3, 6:11 pm ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Two visiting Arab leaders sought to ratchet up diplomatic pressure on Israel in Washington on Monday after Saudi Arabia accused the Jewish state of not being serious about peace with the Palestinians.

Kuwait's emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, who met President Barack Obama, and Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Joudeh, who saw Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, both put the onus on Israel for reviving stalled peace moves.

Israel has made clear its position that the Palestinians and Arab states that support them must first do more to help advance the peace process.

"I affirmed to President Obama that we are interested in bringing about peace in the Middle East," the emir told reporters as he sat down with Obama at the White House.

"It is in our interest that peace be brought about. And the indicator is that the recent Arab peace initiative that was agreed upon by all of the Arab parties and states, and we would implement this peace initiative when Israel implements and fulfills its obligations," he added.

Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal, during a U.S. visit on Friday, rejected U.S. pleas to improve ties with Israel as a way of jump-starting regional peace talks, saying Israel must decide "if it wants real peace, which is at hand, or if it wants to continue obfuscating."

Arab leaders have sharpened criticism of Israel's right-leaning government over its resistance to U.S. pressure to halt all Jewish settlement construction, an issue that has created a rare rift between Washington and its close ally.

Middle East peace -- along with "combating extremism and other regional threats and promoting reform across the Arab world" -- will also be high on the agenda when Obama meets Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Washington on August 18, the White House said.

ARAB PEACE INITIATIVE STALLED

The Obama administration is pressing Arab governments for positive gestures toward Israel if it freezes settlements, a move the United States hopes will lead to regional peace negotiations. But Arab states are cool to the idea.

Arab leaders say they remain committed to an initiative, put forth by Saudi Arabia and endorsed by a 2002 Arab League summit, offering Israel recognition in return for withdrawal from Arab land occupied in 1967, creation of a Palestinian state and a "just" solution for Palestinian refugees.

Successive Israeli governments have rejected or ignored the offer, saying the return of refugees to areas now inside Israel would destroy the Jewish character of the state.

Asked about Saud's accusation against Israel, Joudeh backed the Saudi minister's explanation of the Arab position. "The Arab peace initiative is very clear. It is an end of occupation, establishment of an independent Palestinian state, after which there will be normal relations," Joudeh said.

Obama, with Kuwait's emir at his side, made no mention of the matter, saying they would discuss the "importance of moving the Arab-Israeli peace process forward." Since taking office in January, Obama has vowed a more active role in peace efforts than his predecessor George W. Bush.

In a joint appearance with Joudeh, Clinton said: "Everyone needs to refrain from provocative actions that might interfere with the path forward. And that's on all sides."

(Additional reporting by Deborah Charles and Jeff Mason; editing by Patricia Wilson and Chris Wilson)