News Tip: Saudi Arabia Could Play Key Role In Mideast Peace, Duke Professor Says

An unexpected peace proposal by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah could prove to be an important step in getting the Middle East peace process back on track, but will likely be viewed warily by Israel since Saudi Arabia has rarely before shown leadership in the peace process, says the director of the Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy at Duke University.

Bruce W. Jentleson, who was involved in Middle East arms control and regional security negotiations in the mid-1990s while serving on the U.S. State Department policy planning staff, said the fact that the Saudis, with their standing in the Arab world, floated the proposal might make it palatable to other Arab nations. The initiative calls for recognition of Israel by all Arab states in exchange for the return of land that Israel has occupied since its 1967 war with its Arab neighbors.

"This could be an important opportunity, but we need to see rumors and press leaks become actual policy statements and action," said Jentleson, author of With Friends Like These: Reagan, Bush and Saddam, 1982-1990 (W.W. Norton, 1994). "The United States should be encouraging, but with a degree of 'show-me' questioning."

Jentleson, part of a U.S. delegation earlier this month at the 38th Munich Conference on Security Policy, said even if both sides embrace the Saudi proposal, the issue of ground violence between the Israelis and Palestinians remains. "This especially requires Yasser Arafat to step up and demonstrate real leadership, and also Israel to show greater restraint."

Jentleson can be reached for additional comment at (919) 613-7309.