The Arab League on Wednesday picked Egypt and Jordan to take the lead in approaching Israel to promote the Saudi-drafted peace plan in a bid to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Arab League assigned Egypt and Jordan on Wednesday to convince Israel to accept a revived peace initiative which promises normal relations in exchange for all Arab lands captured in 1967.
US officials expressed disappointment that an Arab working group formed Wednesday to initiate contacts with Israel on a plan to normalize relations included only those two Arab nations which already have diplomatic ties with the Jewish state.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates visited Israel on Wednesday to bolster a strategic alliance in the face of Iran's nuclear program and lay to rest spats over Israeli arms sales to China dating back seven years.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has reached an agreement with militant groups that they will stop rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip into Israel, an aide said on Wednesday.
Egypt, Jordan to Promote Mideast Peace Plan With Israel
U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates arrived in Israel on Wednesday for talks on regional security that Israeli officials see as laying to rest spats over arms exports to China dating back seven years.
Israel's prime minister said Wednesday that the list of prisoners Palestinians want freed in exchange for a captured Israeli soldier "creates expectations we cannot meet."
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Wednesday there were limits to what Israel would give in return for a soldier seized by Palestinian militants last summer.
TEL AVIV, Israel, 2:26 p.m. April 18 (AP): Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Wednesday that diplomatic efforts to resolve the standoff with Iran over its nuclear program are working and should get a chance to succeed.