Palestinians urge US to support Saudi peace initiative

A Palestinian cabinet minister has called on the United States to give its full support to a new Middle East peace initiative drawn up by the Saudi Arabian authorities.

Reb Erekat said the US must support the plan if it is to succeed.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell has already said the initiative is an important step, but he said he would have to see the details before taking a position on the issue.

Danny Ayalon, an advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, said: "We think it is too early to comment. However, if we find there is something to it, we will respond accordingly."

Under the proposal, submitted by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, Israel would withdraw from the Palestinian territories it occupied in 1967 in exchange for a normalisation of relations between Israel and the Arab world.