Arab states have consulted US and European governments on a plan to halt Israel’s attack on Gaza and achieve lasting peace, suggesting the creation of an independent Palestinian state in exchange for the normalization of relations. 

The Financial Times, quoting an unnamed “senior Arab official”, reports the proposal includes Saudi Arabia normalizing ties with Israel, and Palestine being given full membership at the United Nations. 

The Arab states will present the plan internationally in a few weeks. “The real issue is you need hope for Palestinians, it can’t just be economic benefits or removal of symbols of occupation,” the FT quoted the official as saying. “Given the Israeli body politic today, normalization is maybe what can bring Israelis off the cliff.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may be a stumbling block to the proposal, the report noted, as he recently said he is “proud” of not bowing to international pressure for Palestinian statehood.

Aljazeera