A South African official on Wednesday urged Israel to seize the opportunity presented by the united Arab peace initiative to begin "serious negotiations" to normalize its relations with the Palestinians.

Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad was opening the United Nations African meeting on the question of Palestine, which will take place in Pretoria, South Africa's capital, over the coming three days.

"South Africa believes that until a comprehensive, just and permanent solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is found, the Middle East region will not be able to realize its full potential and will remain a key source of instability and thus a threat to world peace and security," Pahad said.

Pahad said the emerging united Arab position to push for the implementation of the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative was an opportunity for Israel to restart negotiations with the Palestinians.

"It essentially calls for the return of all Palestinian land based on the 1967 borders and on the basis of a genuine attempt to establish a Palestinian state living side by side and in peace with Israel," he said.

There should also be meetings under the auspices of the UN between Israel, Lebanon and Syria, Pahad said.

"South Africa will work diligently with all parties to secure a just and lasting peace in the Middle East... we will work within the (UN) Security Council and the Non-Aligned Movement, and bilaterally to convince the powers that be that this is an opportunity that should not be missed," reads his speech released by the foreign ministry.

The meeting in Pretoria was arranged by the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and is aimed at restarting the Israeli-Palestinian political process.

Source: Xinhua