WASHINGTON, July 16: US President George W. Bush on Monday urged Arab nations, which have still not made peace with Israel, to open a dialogue “ending the fiction that Israel does not exist”.

“Arab nations should also take an active part in promoting peace negotiations,” Mr Bush said as he announced a series of measures aimed at kick-starting the Middle East peace talks.

The US president also called for an international conference grouping Israel, the Palestinian Authority and some Arab neighbours to revive Middle East peace talks.—AFP