Israeli-Palestinian Leaders Reaffirm Commitment to Dialogue
Davos, Switzerland, 25 January 2007 – Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tzipi Livni today reiterated their commitment to finding a two-state solution and to resuming long-stalled negotiations.
"The Middle East is in dire need of peace and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is one of the most serious conflicts that requires a solution," President Abbas told the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2007. "Dialogue between nations and different sectors of society will lead to peace."
Noting previous agreements signed with Israel, as well as other peace initiatives, such as the UN-sponsored Road Map, President Abbas called for resuming negotiations that will ultimately lead to a Palestinian state.
"What is required now is for us to trace the beginning and the end of this peace process," he said. "Our hand remains outstretched to start the negotiation process. Fear and despair must be replaced by hope and forgiveness. Nothing is more important than peace … for our children."
Vice-Prime Minister Livni reciprocated the call to seek peace for future generations.
"Our responsibility is to give them hope, this is something we owe them," Livni said after viewing with the Davos participants several filmed messages of peace from young Israelis and Palestinians in Jerusalem, Ramallah and Tel Aviv.
"If what can come out of this is a promise to generations to come that we will take all the measures to bring peace to our region."
Livni, like Abbas, also envisions a two-state solution to the conflict, but asked what the best way is to achieve this goal. She reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to the Road Map, but said that the current Palestinian government must fulfil its part of the agreement, including the acceptance of Israel’s right to exist and the renouncement of terrorism.
"There is a Palestinian state at the end of the process, but the terrorism must be dismantled," Livni stressed. "This is a step-by-step process but gives a political horizon."
She added that in order to realize the two-state vision, moderates on both sides need to fight against the extremists that want to destroy it.
"I know there is an expectation to see us advancing," Livni said. "I know it’s not easy … but we want to negotiate, to talk, to share ideas and to find common denominators."
Adding to the discussion, former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres said that the problems are solvable and appealed to the international business community to invest in the region, particularly in a proposed shared economic zone between Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Territories. "Companies are looking for emerging markets," Peres said "If you are global you must be interested in the globality of peace."
Closing the session, Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum, said that Peres’ appeal to investors is already being answered, announcing that the Forum is in the advanced stage of creating an Israeli-Palestinian business council to stimulate foreign investment. "We have heard from the young people the expectations of hope … we have heard from the leaders," Schwab said. "I hope we all join the efforts to find a lasting solution."
Document Sources: World Economic Forum
Subject: Palestine question, Peace proposals and efforts
Publication Date: 25/01/2007