Ehud Olmert may not be the man capable of envisioning an end to the protracted Arab-Israeli conflict, writes Ibrahim Nafie Speaking at a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he would be willing to accept an invitation from Saudi Arabia to attend an Arab-Israeli summit to discuss the Arab peace initiative. Olmert's remarks came less than three days following the summit in Riyadh in which Arab leaders revived the Arab initiative they launched in Beirut in 2002. The Arab initiative offers Israel a chance to become integrated in the region and be fully recognised by its neighbours, in return for implementing relevant international resolutions according to international law. So far, the Israeli public has taken a favourable view of the initiative. According to public polls, a majority of Israelis see the initiative as a historic opportunity. Israeli analysts have been criticising Olmert for failing to act on the initiative. Some writers said the Israeli prime minister lacked political imagination. Others said he didn't have the best interests of Israel in mind. Reluctantly, Olmert suggested an Arab-Israeli summit to shore up his image. As soon as Olmert called for a meeting with moderate Arab leaders to discuss what he still calls the "Saudi initiative", several Israeli writers said the prime minister was trying to buy time by feigning interest. An editorial published on 9 April in Haaretz opined, "we're used to having a great gap between the promises of elected leaders and their real actions. In April 2006, Olmert promised us great things, including a withdrawal from parts of the West Bank within 18 months. Olmert told us that his plan would change the face of the region. He told us that within weeks of forming the government, he would put the final touches on the withdrawal plan with the help of teams of military, political and economic specialists. He called on Arab countries to support his plan. He said that this would be the only way to end the conflict. And he fulfilled none of those promises." The Arab initiative, wrote a prominent Israeli analyst, is a great opportunity for peace. The only problem is that it is the right move taken at the wrong time. The Arab initiative requires an Israeli partner with vision, courage, and initiative -- all of which are qualities that Olmert doesn't have. The best answer for the Arab initiative is for Israel to hold early elections and bring new people to power, the Israeli analyst said.
