The leaders of the Arab League are gathering in Saudi Arabia for their annual summit. This year it is more important than ever, as all parties look for a lasting peace in the Middle East.
The new found spurt in diplomacy over the Palestinian situation, Iraq, and the Arab-Israeli conflict has heightened expectations of the meeting. Saudi Arabia is likely to re-iterate its 2002 Israeli peace plan. At the time Israel rejected it out of hand, but now a more conciliatory mood suggests negotiations are possible.