Arab nations are hoping to enlist the support of the United Nations Security Council to help launch a new Mideast peace process.
Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa (R) said that the Middle East peace process has failed
Arab League foreign ministers have asked to send a delegation to a ministerial meeting of the Security Council in September to initiate a new effort to bring lasting peace between the Israelis and Palestinians after nearly 60 years of conflict.
Once agreed, the ministers hope the plan would replace the so-called "road map" drafted by the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia - known as the Quartet - in 2003.
Yahya Mahmassani, the Arab League's envoy to the United Nations, said he had personally discussed the foreign ministers' request with the 15 Security Council members and "there is very strong support" for the idea of convening a council meeting. It will likely take place between September 20th-24th, he said.
He said bringing the question of the Arab-Israeli conflict to the Security Council will be one of the main items on the agenda of an Arab ministerial meeting on Sunday at Arab League headquarters in Cairo.
Arab foreign ministers decided to take the issue to the Security Council at a meeting in Cairo on July 15th, two days after Israel launched an offensive against Hezbollah militants after they captured two Israeli soldiers, he said.
At that meeting, Arab ministers displayed frustration and declared the Mideast peace process "dead," blaming Israel for its demise.
"The Middle East peace process has failed," Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said after that meeting. "We are going to the Security Council - this is a unanimous position - to discuss the whole situation from scratch."
AP