Which new initiatives could restart the peace process?
During the plenary session, Saeb Erakat, the Chief Palestinian Negotiator, was able to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian issue with Daniel Ben Simon (Member of the Israeli Knesset, Israel Labor Party Parliamentary Group Chairman), Keith Ellison (Representative of the 5th district of Minnesota in the US Congress, Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee), Marc Otte (Special Representative of the European Union for the Middle East Peace Process) and Andre Azoulay (Advisor to His Majesty the King of Morocco).
Dr. Erakat called once again for the establishment of a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with agreed land swaps and East Jerusalem as its capital. He stressed that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has chosen to maintain the status quo and settlements over peace, and that the failures of negotiations are the Israeli government’s fault. He also highlighted the Palestinian Authority’s options moving forward. This includes applying for full membership at the United Nations, or eventually demanding Israel to assume its responsibilities as an occupying power under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
To restart the peace process, Knesset member Daniel Ben Simon called on Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to be courageous, to bring Kadima into his coalition, and to talk to the Israeli people about the “price of peace.” He said that Israeli citizens were more advanced than their leaders when it came to making peace, and that Israel needs an “act of leadership.”
As a Jewish Arab, Andre Azoulay, Advisor to His Majesty the King of Morocco, called on US President Obama to make a speech to the Jewish world, as the President did in 2009 for the Muslim world in Cairo. Such a speech would help “reestablish the truth” in Judaism, and address the double standards present in religious and political discourse. Mr. Azoulay also claimed that civil society is central to the future of the peace process. A “wake-up call” is needed to convince the public to demand peace from its government.
As international actors, both the US and the EU play a key role in the future of the peace process. US Congressman Keith Ellison spoke of the resolution of the conflict as a “major priority” of the Obama administration, and added that building a vocal Palestinian constituency in the United States could encourage the US government to act as a more fair broker. However, this will be difficult in-light of the increasingly Republican, pro-Israel Congress. Marc Otte, EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process, emphasized the importance of resolving this “neighborhood” conflict, but admitted that the EU, with its many different voices will always take a complementary role to that of the US and other powers.
by John Nowak
