Mahmoud Abbas calls on Barack Obama to enact Arab peace plan as soon as he takes office

     Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is asking U.S. President-elect Barack Obama to implement an Arab peace plan as soon as he enters office. Abbas spoke at an economic conference in the northern West Bank town of Nablus on Saturday. It is the first time the Palestinian President has asked Obama to adopt the Arab peace plan. The plan is referred to as the "Arab Initiative." It calls on Israel to withdraw from the West Bank, Gaza and parts of Jerusalem. It also calls on Israel to settle the issue of millions of Palestinian refugees. In return, Arab and Muslim states will recognize Israel and have full relations. This week Abbas took his case for peace directly to ordinary Israelis, assuring them that the Arab peace plan would bring them benefits. Peace Now buys ads in Palestinian newspaper Peace Now, the Israeli leftist movement, published advertisements in a widely circulated Palestinian newspaper on Friday declaring its support for the Saudi peace plan. (22,36)