Israeli president will discuss Saudi peace plan with Mubarak

JERUSALEM - Israeli President Shimon Peres will discuss an Arab proposal for comprehensive Mideast peace when he meets with Egypt's leader this week, Peres' office said yesterday.

Peres has been promoting the Saudi initiative recently because Israel's separate peace talks with Syria and the Palestinians appear to be making little progress.

Peres spokeswoman Ayelet Frisch confirmed the Arab peace plan would "come up" when he meets President Hosni Mubarak in Egypt today.

Saudi Arabia first proposed the peace initiative in 2002. It offers pan-Arab recognition of Israel in exchange for Israel's withdrawal from Arab lands captured in 1967. The 22-member Arab League has since endorsed the plan.

There was no immediate comment from Egypt or the Arab League.

Earlier this week, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak endorsed the idea as a "basis for a discussion on overall regional peace." Peres and Barak have discussed the issue with Prime Minister-designate Tzipi Livni. Her office has declined comment.

Israel's interim prime minister, Ehud Olmert, has welcomed the Saudi plan, but he and other leaders want to keep small parts of the territories captured in 1967.

Israel also objects to language that appears to endorse a large-scale return of Palestinian refugees to lands inside Israel. Israel says a large influx of Palestinians would destroy the country's Jewish character.

Peres, Israel's ceremonial president, first proposed putting Israel's various peace talks on one track last month at the United Nations, calling on Saudi King Abdullah to "further his initiative." He has since been pushing the idea in meetings with Israeli, Arab and Western officials, his office said.

While Peres has no formal role in Israeli foreign policy, he is a Nobel peace laureate and well-respected in the international community.

Peres and Mubarak are to meet today in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh. Peres' office said talks would also focus on the fate of a kidnapped Israeli soldier held in the Gaza Strip and the global financial crisis.