JERUSALEM - Israeli leaders are giving serious consideration to a dormant Saudi plan offering a comprehensive peace between Israel and the Arab world, the defence minister Ehud Barak said today.
Mr. Barak said because individual negotiations with Syria and the Palestinians appear to be making little headway, it may be time to pursue an overall peace deal for the region.
He said he has discussed the Saudi plan with the prime minister-designate Tzipi Livni, who is in the process of forming a new Israeli government, and that Israel is considering a response.
Saudi Arabia first proposed its peace initiative in 2002, offering pan-Arab recognition of Israel in exchange for Israel's withdrawal from Arab lands captured in 1967 - the West Bank, Gaza Strip, east Jerusalem and the Golan Heights.
The 22-member Arab League endorsed the plan last year. Israel has said the plan is a good basis for discussion, but expressed some reservations.