Lebanese President Urges Arabs to Review Peace Process with Israel

Published March 27th, 2001 - 03:00 GMT

Lebanese President Emile Lahoud urged Arab leaders meeting at a summit in Amman Tuesday to reconsider the peace process with Israel, which he accused of denying Arab rights.

"For Israel, there is no peace process but a security plan sponsored by well-known international parties (US) that is hiding behind the slogan of peace," Lahoud told the summit's opening session.

The plan "is aimed at guaranteeing the security of Israel, whether it be in Lebanon, in the Golan, in the West Bank or in Gaza", he said in reference to Israeli occupation of Arab territory including the Syrian Golan Heights.

"This security plan denies the rights of the Arab people and the concept of a just and comprehensive peace as stipulated by international resolutions," Lahoud said.

"We must stand up to this reality by adopting a common Arab position to confront Israel ... and the support it is receiving from the sponsors of the peace process," Lahoud said.

Lahoud urged the Arabs to provide "economic, military and political support to the Palestinian, Lebanese and Syrian people resisting Israeli occupation." -- AMMAN (AFP)