A window of opportunities opens in the Middle East – 2005 World Economic Forum (Davos) – WEF Press release/Non-UN document

28 January 2005 – Davos, Switzerland

Israeli and Palestinian officials at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2005 agreed Friday that a window of opportunity to end the long-standing conflict in the Middle East is possible. Noting that the meeting was the first in a long time for both sides to come together in a public arena, Forum Founder Klaus Schwab urged the leaders to take advantage of the Meeting to increase trust and build confidence.

“We have a window of opportunity,” said Israeli Vice-Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. “The most important thing is to set the right priorities to take this process forward.”

Adding to the consensus, Yasser Abed Rabbo of the Palestinian Authority said that since the recent election of Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, there is hope that there will be a new beginning for the peace process and change in conditions. “We have achieved a lot in a short period of time,” Rabbo said, “but there is a need for resumption of final status negotiations where conditionality is replaced by reciprocity.”

Shimon Peres, Vice-Prime Minister of Israel and Chairman of the Labour Party, also took note of the quick change of events on the ground, but stressed the need to strengthen the political structures on both sides. “We have to keep up the momentum – politically, security-wise and economically. We have to create an immediate sense that peace is not just a promise, but peace is an immediate change in peoples’ lives. We need an act of economic democracy.” He added, “This is my 11th Davos, and I must say that the magic has returned to the mountain. What surprised me so pleasantly is not that Mr Abbas was elected so convincingly… but what surprised me is his implementation. In a few days he changed the whole atmosphere.”

For the Palestinian Authority, Maher Al Masri, Minister of National Economy, said that all political and economic issues should be addressed immediately and that the two issues could not be separated. “It is important that attention be given to economic development in order to bridge the gap of the ‘here and now’ and to sustain development in future,” added Salam Fayyad, Minister of Finance of the Palestinian Authority. “We [Palestinians] must build on progress in the area of financial accountability and transparency. We have to ensure that we have in place institutions that are strong and capable of running our state of affairs. However, economic development is no substitute for credible progress on the political track.”

On security issues, Israeli government officials noted the current lull in the violence on the ground and were encouraged by President Abbas’s efforts to seek a ceasefire by Palestinian militants. “There is a new era now with a new moderate and pragmatic leader,” said Silvan Shalom, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel. “It shows that they [Palestinian leadership] are determined and capable.” He warned, however, that more needs to be done to dismantle the militants’ infrastructure and weapon-smuggling rings.

“I think that in order to guarantee that any security measures will be sustained, a serious political process needs to begin,” Rabbo said. “We are interested in having a comprehensive solution where two states will exist side-by-side. A chance for having such a solution will contribute to a just and lasting peace for two nations.”

Klaus Schwab echoed the optimism for a future peace settlement by presenting the panellists with a gift of mountain crystal representing unity and diversity. The plaque reads: World Economic Forum, Bethlehem – date to be announced soon. “My dream is to hold the next meeting of the World Economic Forum in Bethlehem,” Schwab said. “Such a meeting would demonstrate that a two-state solution is reachable.”