Amro Musa, Secretary General of the Arab League, announced today that the Arab Peace Initiative Committee is scheduled to hold an extraordinary meeting next week upon request of the State of Palestine to discuss the Arab next step following the U.S. position towards Israeli Palestinian negotiations and Jewish settlements in the Palestinian territories. In a statement, Musa said Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas requested the convoking of the meeting during which Arab Foreign ministers of the committee's member parties would be briefed on the message Abbas has received from the U.S. side regarding negotiations and settlements. Asked whether the U.S. has failed to convince Israel to halt settlements, the Arab League Secretary General said "Yes, failed; but it hasn't so far announced its failure in the entire peace process". Whether the Arab Peace Initiative Committee would give, in its forthcoming meeting, the U.S. another chance to convince Israel on the issue, Musa interrogated "on what bases could the committee give the United States another chance as Israel has announced its rejection to stop settlements". Musa expressed belief that no Arab country would request during the meeting to give the U.S. another chance. Of course, we are going to find out Palestinian alternatives and options available, Musa said in response to a question. He could not rule out discussing the option of sending the issue to the United Nations table.
