Meetings of World Islamic Council held in Cairo

The Arab League has called upon the new Israeli government to fully abide by basic requirements for a genuine Middle East peace based on implementing international legitimacy resolutions and the Madrid terms of reference, especially the land-for-peace formula.

In a speech he made on behalf of AL Secretary General Esmat Abdul Meguid on Wednesday at the World Islamic Council, which opened in Cairo on Wednesday, AL Assistant Secretary General for Arab Affairs Ahmad Bin Hali said the new Israeli government is called upon to avoid procrastination as practiced by the outgoing Likud government as well as to resume peace negotiations from the point at which the Middle East peace process was broken off.

Bin Hali added, "The Israelis must implement agreements concluded with the Palestinians and should pull out of all the occupied Arab territories."

The AL called on the Arabs and the Islamic states to unite stances to support substantial issues in Arab negotiations, including the question of holy Jerusalem.

The AL also called for confronting arbitrary Israeli practices aimed, among other things, at changing the demographic and geographic conditions of the city.