Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday called on Israel "to take constructive steps" in response to a new Arab peace initiative.The Arab League last week relaunched a dormant 2002 Saudi plan offering peace with Israel in exchange for a full withdrawal from lands captured in the 1967 Mideast War. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has hailed the plan as a "revolutionary change" but expressed reservations as well.
"I call on the Israeli government to take constructive steps to answer the peace initiative put forward by Arab countries," Abbas said at a news conference with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is the current EU president.
Standing next to Abbas, Merkel welcomed the Arab initiative, but said it was not a final plan.
Read More
