October 20, 2008	Monday	Shawwal 20, 1429

JERUSALEM, Oct 19: Israeli leaders are giving serious consideration to a dormant Saudi plan envisaging a ‘comprehensive peace’ between Israel and the Arab world, Defence Minister Ehud Barak said on Sunday.

Barak said that with individual negotiations with Syria and the Palestinians making little headway, it might be time to pursue an overall peace deal for the region.

He said he had discussed the Saudi plan with Prime Minister-designate Tzipi Livni, who was in the process of forming a new Israeli government.

Saudi Arabia first proposed its peace initiative in 2002, offering pan-Arab recognition of Israel in exchange for Israel’s withdrawal from Arab lands captured in 1967 — the West Bank, Gaza Strip, east Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. The 22-member Arab League endorsed the plan last year.

Israel has said the plan is a good basis for discussion.—AP