Your reaction to the Saudi proposal at last week's Arab summit in Beirut?

It's a compromise that's not fully behind the Saudi proposal.

But influential countries like Syria and Egypt supported the Saudi proposal.

He warned that if the Saudi proposal was adopted "the Arab countries will pay the price in the future."

Although they may be seeking compensation from the Americans for supporting the Saudi proposal, Arab leaders clearly regarded it as in their own interest.

"If Arafat's not there, it's more likely in our view that he'll become the focus of the summit instead of the Saudi proposal."

No formal Saudi proposal has yet been made.

The oil companies are studying the Saudi proposals.

But another diplomat familiar with the Saudi proposal said it was "absolutely still a valid idea."

The centerpiece of the meeting is to be a Saudi proposal for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.