Arab peace plan hangs in balance

Dubai: Israel's escalation of its attack on Gaza yesterday amid a stunning wave of inter-Palestinian bloodshed have cast doubt on the fate of the revived Arab peace initiative and threatens to undermine Arab efforts to promote the plan.

It has become difficult to move with plans to promote the initiative, re-launched at the Riyadh Arab Summit last March, admitted a senior Arab League official. But the League will not stop its efforts despite the latest Israeli aggression, he said.

"Israel has again proved that it is not at all serious about making peace," Hesham Yousuf, Arab League spokesman told Gulf News on the telephone from Cairo.

"Even the regrettable Palestinian infighting is in fact a result of the continued Israeli siege which has made Palestinian life unbearable. The despair is one major reason of what is happening in Gaza," he added.

Yousuf said Arab states are trying hard to stop the factional fighting.

"Arab efforts, particularly by Saudi Arabia and Egypt, have managed to secure a ceasefire. But is it going to be respected by the factions? That is the responsibility of Hamas and Fatah."