Sirte, Libya–The Arab League chief is urging the 22-nation bloc to engage Iran directly over concerns about its growing influence and its nuclear activities.
Amr Moussa presented his proposal to a two-day Arab League leaders summit in Sirte, Libya, that started Saturday. The proposal could undermine US and Israeli efforts to isolate Iran.
Moussa’s engagement plan would involve a forum for regional cooperation and conflict resolution that would include non-Arab nations Iran and Turkey.
Turkish Prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan immediately endorsed the proposal at the summit.
On Thursday, Arab diplomats told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the forum, to be dubbed the “League of Arab Neighbors,” is designed to include Turkey, Iran, Nigeria, Chad, Ethiopia, Greece, Spain and Italy.
Opening a dialogue with Iran bears a particular importance as many Arab states are concerned that the Shia country has been building strong bases in countries like Iraq, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories.
In a related development, Moussa warned that Israel’s actions could bring about a final end to the Middle East peace process. He urged the Arab leaders to forge a new strategy to pressure Israel.
“The peace process cannot be an open ended process," Moussa said.
"We have to study the possibility that the peace process will be a complete failure," Moussa added, calling for the region’s leader to “have alternative plans because the situation has reached a turning-point."
Earlier this month, Arab nations opened the door for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to enter four months of indirect, American-brokered peace talks with Israel. But they later threatened to withdraw support for the talks because of Israeli announcements on new plans for construction in areas Palestinians want for a future state.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the summit said indirect negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians cannot continue unless Israel stops building in the settlements.
"We cannot resume indirect negotiations as long as Israel maintains its settlement policy and the status quo," Abbas said at the opening session of the two-day summit.
