A letter from Dr. Yossi Beilin 14/12/2009
Dear Friends of Peace Now,
I write to you today because I believe that while the need for peace may be ever more urgent, it is no less attainable. We stand today at a critical juncture. The Goldstone Report weighs heavy upon the nation, Mahmoud Abbas threatens to resign and dismantle the PA, and the frosty relationship with the Obama Administration leaves Israel ever more isolated to deal with the challenges she faces.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, whose speech at Bar Ilan lit a flicker of hope when he supported the principle of two states for two people, has since proven that he is not serious about a peace agreement, only recently announcing a partial and temporary settlement freeze, but without initialisng any steps to bring about an end to the occupation. As the Israeli government belittles the PA at every opportunity, it is of little surprise that Abbas’ authority has diminished, undermining him as a partner for peace. Hamas alone is the victor.
In Jerusalem, the situation remains delicate and explosive, as Jewish settlers move into Palestinian neighbourhoods such as Sheih Jarrah or Silwan, creating realities on the ground, further complicating steps
towards peace. While the Palestinians remain relatively calm today, that an escalation in settler provocations in East Jerusalem could drag us towards a third intifada.
Right now, we must call upon our politicians and demand that they take the necessary and courageous steps to advance towards a comprehensive peace accord with our Arab neighbours. American involvement is essential, and Obama must present a practical plan for all parties to follow. Nevertheless, we have come a tremendous
way and polls consistently indicate that almost four fifths of the Israeli public support peace based on the twostate principle, even if they do not share our urgency. If Israel wishes to avoid becoming a pariah state, she must move forward on multiple diplomatic tracks.
She must work towards the conclusion of a peace accord with the Palestinians. She must heed the calls of Syrian President Bashar Assad to end the state of war between the two sides, which would break up the axis of fundamentalism running from Iran to Gaza. She must take the Saudi Peace Plan seriously.
Settlements are the single greatest threat to the implementation of the two-state solution, and this so-called freeze must be implemented and extended to East Jerusalem. Change is in the power of the Israeli government and its citizens.
As a man who for decades has written and promoted peace initiatives from Oslo to Geneva, both behind the scenes and in the public arena, I applaud Peace Now’s efforts to work tirelessly within the Israeli population – through public campaigns, student activities, demonstrations, running tours and educating society through its magnificent Settlement Watch programme. The Berlin Wall fell 20 years ago because of two major factors: bold leaders and brave citizens. Then, as today in the Middle East, the factors were not on the side of progress. But their wisdom and determination should encourage us all.
You are an essential part of this movement, and it is by writing letters to news outlets, pressuring your political leaders and spreading the message of Peace Now to both sides of the debate that you can make a real difference.
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