Will of both sides strongly needed to achieve peace in Middle East: Abul Gheit

CAIRO, Jan 29 (MENA) - Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Abul Gheit stressed on Wednesday that achieving a just and permanent peace between the Palestinians and Israelis is linked to the will of both sides.

About the long-awaited peace plan announced by US President Donald Trump, Abul Gheit said we are thoroughly studying the unbinding US vision. We are open to any serious effort made to achieve peace.

Based on the first reading of the plan, Abul Gheit said the blueprint totally wastes legitimate Palestinian rights on the ground.

Just peace cannot be realized by ignoring Palestinian rights and the fact that Israeli forces have been occupying the Palestinian territories since 1967, he said.

The main criteria to judge any peace plan is to see how far it runs in line with international law and principles of justice, Abul Gheit said.

Any serious plan should meet aspirations of both sides and proposed concessions should be offered by Palestinians and Israelis alike, he added.

The Arab stance towards the plan will be mainly based on the Palestinian response, he said, adding that the Arab League Council will meet at a ministerial level Saturday.

The Arab League understands the US desire to help settle the long-standing Palestinian-Israeli conflict but any applicable solution should put into consideration the aspirations of both sides, he said.

He referred to the Arab peace initiative that was previously put forward by the Arab countries to settle the conflict.