Biblical Road Map to Peace
Akel Biltaji, a senior advisor to Jordan's King Abdullah made some extemporaneous remarks after dinner tonight at Amman's Le Meredien Hotel. Citing the common points between Islam and christianity Biltaji used the cities and cites of the region where Christ, Elijah, Moses and Mohammed visited and traveled, to draw a point that they form the "biblical road map to peace" if only the differing parties could focus on those common points.
Jordan's King Abdullah he said is leading the way in the Middle East to bridge the differences and show that Islam is a religion of peace. Bin Laden and al-Zarqawi have "hijacked" Islam and are musderers who do not resprest the true faith according the former director of Jordanian Tourism.
Ati times Mr. Biltaji strayed beyond the diplomatic line to show his feeling that Israel has not done enough to deliver peace between Israelis and Palestinians. He cites the proposal of Suadi Arabia's King Abdullah in 2003 that the parties return to the pre-1967 boundaries as a starting point. Jerusalm under that scenario would be divided into an Israeli West and and Arab East. He failed to acknowledge that this was very near what was offered to Yassir Arafat in 2000 at Camp David by then Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Arafat rejected that offer, the best he ever received from Israel.