Israel Tells Arabs to Dial for Peace
JERUSALEM — Israel said Saturday that any telephone call to promote peace must be made by Arab states to Israel rather than by Israel to the United States.
“I suggest that the Arab states . . . take this number: Jerusalem 705555, the prime minister’s office,” Justice Minister Dan Meridor told Israel Army radio.
“The moment that line comes to life, the moment there is a conversation from an Arab capital on it, and the moment they request the prime minister there, we will know there is a chance for the peace process,” Meridor said.
Secretary of State James A. Baker III told the House Foreign Affairs committee last week that there would be no Mideast peace if Israel’s new hard-line government insists that Palestinians accept its idea of autonomy before talks began.
Baker gave the White House telephone number and told Israel, “When you’re serious about peace, call us.”
Meridor said Israel’s relations with the United States are important but that the real work for peace has to take place in the Middle East.
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