No negotiations without settlement freeze, says Arab League

At the conclusion of a two-day summit in Sirte, Libya Arab leaders made clear their position on ongoing Israeli housing construction in Arab East Jerusalem. The resumption of peace negotiations, they said, was entirely conditional upon a cessation of all controversial building in the historic city. Despite the unified condemnation of Israel's settlement policy, the members of the Arab League demonstrated a lack of cohesion on other issues discussed during the summit. Syria and Libya have both indicated disdain for existing strategies proposed for negotiations. Ultimately there was no consensus on "proximity talks" or the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative and votes have consequently been deferred until the next summit scheduled for October. The 22 Arab countries did, however, agree to assemble a $500 million aid package intended to increase the Palestinian presence in East Jerusalem.