PM: Arabs should open consular offices in Israel following summit

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday that he expects Arab states to open consular offices in Israel following the Annapolis summit.

Olmert told Ban that "every Arab or Muslim state which participates in the Annapolis summit should demonstrate its support of the process in this way."

The Secretary General visited Olmert Monday night at his Washington hotel, accompanied by the Israeli envoy to the UN, Dan Gillerman. The Secretary General visited Olmert Monday night at his Washington hotel, accompanied by the Israeli envoy to the UN, Dan Gillerman. Olmert told Ban that he does not expect immediate normalization of Israeli-Arab relations, but nonetheless expects some good will gestures, such as opening consular offices.

Olmert asked Ban to convey his message to Arab leaders and exert his leverage to facilitate the idea. More...