Israel is prepared to hold peace talks based on the Arab Peace Initiative, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu surprisingly declared Monday just moments after new Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman took the oath of office, ending a month-long saga over which party would join Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

“I remain committed to making peace with the Palestinians and with all our neighbors,” Netanyahu said in a press conference following the swearing- in ceremony. “The Arab peace initiative includes positive elements that can help revive constructive negotiations with the Palestinians.

“We are willing to negotiate with the Arab states revisions to that initiative so that it reflects the dramatic changes in the region since 2002, but maintains the agreed goal of two states for two peoples.” ….MORE with video via Jpost.com

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Read the text of the Arab peace initiative:

Text: Arab peace plan of 2002

This is the official translation of the Saudi-proposed Arab peace initiative adopted at the annual Arab League Summit in Beirut in 2002. The Council of the League of Arab States at the Summit Level, at its 14th Ordinary Session, – Reaffirming the resolution taken in June 1996 at the Cairo Extra-Ordinary Arab Summit that a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East is the strategic option of the Arab Countries, to be achieved in accordance with International Legality, and which would require a comparable commitment on the part of the Israeli Government. – Having listened to the statement made by His Royal Highness Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in which his Highness presented his Initiative, calling for full Israeli withdrawal from all the Arab territories occupied since June 1967, in implementation of Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, reaffirmed by the Madrid Conference of 1991 and the land for peace principle, and Israel’s acceptance of an independent Palestinian State, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in return for the establishment of normal relations in the context of a comprehensive peace with Israel ….MORE via BBCNEWS

The Oslo Accords were signed on September 13, 1993 between Yitzhak Rabin and Mahmoud Abbas under Bill Clinton, although the U.S. was not greatly involved in the negotiations.  The Arab/Israeli negotiations were ongoing through 95 but were suspended in 1996 over each side’s irreconcilable differences in the definition of “withdrawal”, and Rabin was assassinated in November of that year. Benjamin Netanyahu had been elected to his first stint as Prime Minister in May of that year, hailing from the Likud party, in the midst of increased terror attacks by Hamas.

Concern that the peace process may collapse altogether, the Clinton Administration took a more active role throughout 97 and 98.  In 99 Netanyahu’s government collapsed, and Ehud Barack took Bibi’s place as Prime Minister.  Barack was hopeful of having an agreement in place within a year and a half, however, in a Summit in West Virginia focusing on West Bank withdrawal, Arafat refused to affirm Rabin’s pledge to withdraw to the 6/4/67 lines because any concessions made by the Syrian delegation could not be considered final, as then-Syrian-President Hafiz-Al-Assad was not present.  Barack withdrew forces unilaterally from Lebanon and again sought negotiations on the Palestinian track.  In 2000 Bill Clinton, Arafat and Barack convened at Camp David, with more concessions by Israel than before, and yet agreement could not be reached in regards to borders, Jerusalem, and whether or not Israel would recognize Palestinian refugees “right of return”.  Clinton blamed the failure of the Camp David Accord of 2000 on Arafat at the time. The Al-Aqsa Intifada erupted in September and though the parties managed to achieve a  vague sketch of what “Arab Israeli” peace might look like, a real solution for Arab/Israeli peace has still remained elusive.

So for Netanyahu to reaffirm a willingness to re-engage into the Arab peace initiative, is essentially a revival of negotiations taking up the issues once again of the original Oslo accords established in Norway in which UN security council Resolutions 242 and 338 were initiated, and which will involve withdrawal from territories secured by Israel in the Six Day War and Yom Kippur War. This is what we have been waiting for.  Note Netanyahu’s use of the phrase “peace and security” once again.   While they are saying peace and safety, sudden destruction shall come as labor pains upon a woman with child.

Another surprising appointment is Tzachi Hanegbi, to deal with foreign affairs and diplomatic initiatives Netanyahu plans to pursue in coming weeks.  Hanegbi served as Minister of Health under Netanyahu in ’96, and then Minister of Justice.  Under Sharon he held portfolios in Environment and Transportation, and then Internal Security Minister, and Minister of Intelligence over the Mossad and Shin Bet as well as supervising Israel’s Atomic Energy Agency.  He has switched from Likud to Kadima and back again.  He was previously charged with bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, cleared of all of these charges by a panel of three judges, who did however, find him guilty of perjury, and subjected him to a find of 10,000 NIS (New Israeli Shekels) or in current exchange, a little more than $2500 US. ^(Wikipedia)