Backgrounder

Arab Peace Initiative

The Arab Peace Initiative is a comprehensive peace plan which was proposed in 2002 by then-Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. The Initiative calls for an end to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians and the normalization of relations between Israel and the entire Arab world, in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal from the areas gained by Israel during the 1967 Six Day War and a “just settlement” to the issue of Palestinian refugees. The Arab League endorsed the plan in March 2002, and readopted it in March 2007.

While some Israeli politicians welcomed the initiative, many were concerned by what they called “preconditions” in the document, regarding the issues of borders and refugees, which Israel (and the Quartet) says can only be determined as part of a final status agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.

Periodically, proposals are floated to reintroduce and update the initiative.