Javier Solana is expected to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, who has offered to lead the negotiations with the Arab world. His plan calls for Israeli withdrawal from all territories occupied after the 1967 war including the West Bank, Gaza and the Golan Heights, in exchange for recognition of Israel. Abdullah has called the proposal a "vision," not a "road map".
His adviser says Israel would have to negotiate the details with the Palestinians, the Syrians and the Lebanese.

Saudi Arabia, says the adviser, will not get involved in the negotiations. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has offered to meet with Abdullah to discuss the plan. Egypt's foreign minister is currently in Saudi Arabia working to set up the meeting on behalf of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
U.S. President George W. Bush also offered his praise for the plan, but his spokesperson said Tuesday that the situation is complicated. "There's been so many negative notes coming out of the Middle East recently, at least in this statement by the Crown Prince there was a note of hope. It doesn't change anything on the ground. The situation remains a very complicated situation and a very violent one," said Ari Fleisher.
The Saudis could formally present the proposal to the UN Security Council Wednesday night. Despite any talk of peace, violence continued in the region Wednesday.

A Palestinian man was killed before dawn as he attempted to plant a bomb beside an Israeli tank near the West Bank refugee camp of Balata. Al Aqsa Brigades militia leader Nasser Awais is hiding out in the camp with several hundred armed supporters. They have vowed to continue strikes against Israeli targets. The victim was a member of the militant group. Also Wednesday, an Israeli was shot and killed by a Palestinian at the coffee factory where they both worked in north Jerusalem's industrial area. Israeli radio says a group linked to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement claimed responsibility.

Written by CBC News Online Staff