ADJUSTING TO FACTS ON THE GROUND:

Jordan's king to put forward new peace strategy (Associated Press, THE JERUSALEM POST, Mar. 18, 2005)

King Abdullah II of Jordan has put forward a new peace strategy that Arab diplomats said Friday would call for Mideast nations to normalize relations with Israel even before the Jewish state gives up land seized in the 1967 Six Day War.

The proposal, made for an Arab League summit that starts Monday, appeared to have little support among Arab nations. But it was highly unusual move even to put such a plan before an Arab forum.

The Jordanian proposal includes an call for "an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict" and the establishment of normal relations "in return for a lasting and comprehensive settlement," according to an Arab diplomat who read the text to The Associated Press.

It is vaguely worded but - unlike a Saudi peace initiative adopted at the 2002 Arab summit held in Beirut - it omits any reference to UN resolutions and Arab demands calling for Israel to withdraw to pre-1967 borders and the right of return of refugees.

The omission suggests the king, whose country has a peace deal with Israel, wants the Arabs to accept geographical changes Israel has made in the territories since 1967.

That would mark a major shift in Arab strategy, which has called for a full normalization of relations with Israel only after a complete peace, with the return of all Arab territories under Israeli occupation.