In 2002, the Arab League put forth the Arab Peace Initiative (API), offering full normalization of relations between Israel and the Arab world in exchange for the implementation of a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a resolution of Israel's conflict with Syria. For years Israel and the international community, including the U.S., largely ignored the API, while cynics denounced it as an Arab ruse.

Recently, positive interest in the API has grown, both inside and outside Israel. This is a hopeful development. The API is an historic plan, representing a real basis for negotiations that could deliver comprehensive regional peace.

APN believes the U.S. should embrace the Arab Peace Initiative as a positive signal of Arab willingness to pursue peace and normalize relations with Israel and as a basis for negotiations that could resolve the Israeli-Arab conflict. APN urges Americans and their elected officials to recognize that normalization of relations between Israel and the Arab world will not be achievable without tangible progress toward Israeli-Palestinian peace.

(Feb. 2011)