A Summary of the Arab League's Proposal and the Obstacles to Its Implementation

A Path to Peace in the Middle East

The Arab League has presented a plan for peace in the Middle East, calling for the reconstruction of Gaza and a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The plan, which was formulated by Egypt and the Palestinian leadership in the West Bank, would see Gaza governed by a reformed Palestinian Authority and rebuilt at a cost of $85 billion.

The United States and Israel have both rejected the plan, with the US stating that Gaza is currently uninhabitable and Israel claiming the plan is based on outdated perspectives. However, the Arab League has also offered the Arab Peace Initiative (API), which was first launched in 2002 and re-endorsed in 2007 and 2017.

The API promises Israel full recognition, normalisation, and security in exchange for ending its occupation of the Palestinian territories and Golan Heights and accepting the establishment of a Palestinian state. In return, Arab nations would guarantee Israel's security and enter into a peace agreement.

The API was initially supported by the US and adopted as part of the "roadmap" for peace put forward by the Middle East Quartet. It was revived by then-US Secretary of State John Kerry in 2013 as a basis for peace talks.

Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi has stated that all 57 Arab and Muslim countries are willing to guarantee Israel's security in the context of ending the occupation and allowing for the emergence of a Palestinian state. He blames Israel for failing to accept Arab overtures and says its military campaigns have destroyed any remaining goodwill in the Arab world.

Israel has shown little enthusiasm for the API, with former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon rejecting it outright in 2002. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also said that the proposal cannot form the basis for new peace negotiations.

There are many sticking points in the API for Israeli governments, particularly the demand for a "just solution" regarding Palestinian refugees in neighboring countries. Another obstacle is Israel's loss of the Jewish settlements in the West Bank as part of any withdrawal.

Despite the challenges, the need for peace remains as the ceasefire in Gaza crumbles. The Israeli government is still pushing the adoption of the Trump plan, but the API could be a way forward.

Analysts from the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies believe that the assumption that the API is obsolete and that peace with Arab countries is no longer contingent on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has proven incorrect. Many figures, both Israeli and Arab, believe that peace is ultimately the strongest guarantee of Israeli security. The API urges Israel to reconsider its policies and declare that a just peace is its strategic option as well.