Arab League Endorses U.S. Plan for Israel

Arab League Secretary General Amr Mussa attends a meeting with Arab foreign ministers at the institution's headquarters in Cairo, Egypt on March 3. Arab foreign ministers agreed to back one last round of indirect Palestinian-Israeli. (Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images)

Arab countries endorsed plans for indirect talks between Palestinians and Israelis, boosting an effort to return to full peace talks.

The announcement comes after Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, refused to enter in direct negotiations with Israel as long as it continues the construction of settlements in disputed territory. Amr Moussa, the secretary-general of the 14-member Arab League, said on Wednesday that indirect talks were a “last chance.”

“Despite the lack of conviction in the seriousness of the Israeli side, the committee sees that it would give the indirect talks the chance as a last attempt and to facilitate the U.S. role,” said Mr. Moussa, reading from a statement. On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the resolution from the committee of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo, adding that Israel has said repeatedly it is ready to resume talks without preconditions.