U.S. and Arab states plan to attend a peace meeting
According to Reuters (Canada), The United States announced Sunday to Arab states in the Middle East that they must renounce violence and genuinely seek an end to the conflict, as the United Nations invites Syria and seven other Arab countries to a peace meeting.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the members of the Arab League panel comprised of: the Palestinian Authority, Syria, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt were “natural invitees� to the U.S.-hosted conference.
Jordan and Egypt are the only countries of the Arab League panel that have full relations with Israel, while Syria is accused of providing arms and money to pro-Palestinian groups that are against peace with Israel.
Rice said that attending the peace conference, which is expected to be held in Washington D.C. in November, came with some strings.
“We hope that those who come are really committed to helping the Israelis and the Palestinians find a way through. And that means renouncing violence, it means working for a peaceful solution,� Rice told reporters at a news conference of the United States, the United Nations, Russia and the European Union.
The United States wants the countries that comprise the Arab League panel to take part in the peace conference in order to bring peace between Israel and its neighbors.