"He said the discussions would be based on the 2002 Saudi peace initiative — approved by the Arab League but not Israel — which called on the Jewish state to withdraw from Palestinian territory captured in the 1967 Six Day War, including East Jerusalem, in exchange for a normalization of ties with Arab countries. "

So the starting framework for these multinational discussions is that Israel withdraw to its pre-1967 war boundaries, including giving up East Jerusalem and, in return it gets - wait for it - a normalization of ties with Arab countries. Wow. Stop the presses.

It's difficult to see why Israel turned down this great deal before. Maybe that's why neither Israel or the P.A. is being invited to this conference. Does this remind anyone else of Munich?

behind the scenes due to mutual distrust of and commonality of interest concerning Shia Iran (e.g., notice the same reaction of the Saudis and Israelis to the Iran deal or the relatively muted response by most Arab states during the last war in Gaza).

The Sunni Arab states largely believe Hamas to be a dangerous irritant, and their connection to the Muslim Brotherhood has caused significant problems with Egypt and others. Hezbollah is even more loathed in the region because of its military support of Asad and Iran.

Normalization is happening, albeit VERY slowly and quietly, effective Palestinian political support and militant options are weak despite the howls of some college students, and U.S. domestic politics renders serious pressure on Israel almost the equivalent of political suicide.

France can host all the summits they want, but it will not make them meaningful or important unless both the Israelis and Palestinians find them valuable.

5 million "refugees" would have the opportunity to move to Israel or receive reparations.

As for the so called normalization with the 22 Arab League countries, right after the plan was presented to western media amr moussa, the head of the Arab League at the time went on Arabic media the very next day to assure everyone that the normalization of relations with Israel could take place on different time frames, whatever works for the Arab countries.

The whole thing was a media stunt to place blame on Israel and it's still working to this day.

phony proposals. So, instead of taking the Arab states to task for 1) their instransigence in even recognizing the State of Israel; 2)using the Palestinians as pawns in their larger manuevers and 3) doing nothing themselves to ease the 'plight' of all their Palestinian brethren, the lead headline always seems to be "Israel unwilling to discuss a 'reasonable' settlement with the Palestinians".

If Israel has any objections, it would be good to hear what they are.

yourself can't see what the problem is with the Saudi Plan? Only Israel is asked to give up anything. Absolutely zero concessions from the Palestinians. Israel would be deranged to agree to it. It's garbage.

If war breaks out as a result and 10's of thousands die, that's not their problem.

And yet they hold the moral "high" ground.

My ass.

France has zero credibility in I/P affairs.

and accepting even more refugees after the Paris attacks.