Israel is pushing for changes in the Saudi Arabian peace initiative of 2002, which promises recognition of the Jewish state by Arab neighbouring states in return for a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza, the Israeli Ha'aretz daily reported Friday.
Israel wants the Arab League to adopt an 'improved version' of the plan at its next Summit in Riyadh later this months, which would have a 'softer' approach toward the Palestinian refugee issue.
The daily was quoting senior government sources in Jerusalem.
'A new summit is expected and it's appropriate for them to know what parts are acceptable to Israel and what is an absolute red line in our eyes,' Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni told Israel's Channel 10 television Thursday night.
As part of a future peace deal, Israel wants Palestinian refugees who in the 1948 Middle East war fled their homes in what is now the Jewish state, to become citizens of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza.
Their number has grown from some 900,000 in 1950 to more than 4 million and Israeli leaders argue that if the refugees and their offspring are allowed to return to Israel proper, this would in essence create a Palestinian state next to one in the West Bank and Gaza.
The Saudi initiative, proposed by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, was adopted at the March 2002 Arab League Summit in Beirut. It was considered a breakthrough because it was the first time Arab nations as a bloc said they were willing to consider recognition of Israel.