ALGIERS - Jordanian Foreign Minister Hani Mulki on Wednesday criticised Israel for a "quick and negative" response to an Arab peace initiative endorsed by a summit of leaders in the Algerian capital.
"The reactivation of the peace initiative, is conducive to peace," Mulki told AFP, adding that he hoped to persuade Israel to see the benefits of the land-for-peace initiative adopted Tuesday.
"We hope that Israel does not take this quick, negative reaction because it might look like they are not interested in peace and we hope this is not the case," he added.
Arab leaders, ending the first day of a two-day summit in Algiers Tuesday, adopted a resolution to normalise ties with Israel on condition it evacuates all occupied Arab land, agree to the creation of an independent Palestinian state and the return of Palestinian refugees.
Based on a Jordanian proposal, the resolution was initially submitted by Saudi Arabia and endorsed at the 2002 Beirut summit but quickly rejected by Israel.
But Late Tuesday a senior Israeli official said his country rejected anew the initiative.
"Unfortunately, the Arab League prefers to give this illusion of unity on the surface by adopting resolutions that contradict with all of the advances made, particularly by Egypt and Jordan, which is unacceptable," a senior official in the prime minister's office told AFP on condition of anonymity.
"The summit proved it is out of touch with reality and in a delicate situation regarding developments in the Arab world," said the official.
Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Jordan in 1979, followed by Jordan in 1994.
"I will have in the next few days an opportunity to further discuss the matter with the Israeli side with the hope that we come together and emphasise the importance of a comprehensive peace," Mulki said.
Asked if he a much-delayed visit by Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom to Amman was in the works, Mulki said: "He will come as soon as we have a positive indication on the Jordanian prisoners and the Arab peace initiative."
Mulki held talks in Israel earlier this month on his country's highest-ranking visit to the Jewish state for four years, as he strove to breathe new life into relations.
But he failed to secure an agreement to win the release of 25 Jordanians held in Israel "for reasons linked to the resistance against the occupation forces".
03/23/2005 09:18 GMT