The situation in occupied territories has worsened to the extent that it warns of an impending catastrophe for everyone, and this should alert anyone who has the wisdom, vision and courage to defend peace.
For this reason I am writing to Palestinians and Israelis alike.
I cannot imagine for one second that the majority of Israelis do not want peace. On the contrary, I am sure the overwhelming majority of Israelis want peace with the Palestinians and want stability and security based on a political solution that gives to each his own. That is, the solution based on establishing an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, a state with which Israel enjoys peace and stability and cooperates economically and in other areas of development.
I am also absolutely sure that the overwhelming majority of Palestinians want to establish peace with the Israelis and want to enjoy security and stability and to live a dignified life in their independent state that will give them control over their land, economy and their lives, just as any other people.
As for what is taking place now, extremists on both sides are controlling matters via a cycle of horrible violence. In the shadow of violence, wisdom, vision and the courage to move toward peace, that might not give each side what they want but gives them enough to satisfy their need for establishing peace, all disappear.
Israelis and Palestinians have both fallen victim to extremists not only through the spread of violence, murder and destruction, but also through misleading and inciteful propaganda that produces a dangerous atmosphere — one that has led many to believe that violence and the use of military force can solve a political problem related to the rights of an entire people.
Violence breeds only more violence, and a political problem cannot be solved through violence, be it the violence that is trying to impose a solution on the Palestinians, or the violence Palestinian extremists are using, thinking that it will lead to the end of the Israeli occupation.
Both are completely wrong; and as a result of their mistakes, completely wrong opinions have emerged that are being used by extremists on both sides to incite more violence and the use of military methods.
Thus, I am writing to explain to Israelis and Palestinians alike the following:
First, the Palestinians (the majority) have not changed their strategy. Their strategic choice, which has been approved by legislative, executive and popular bodies, is to establish peace with Israel by the two-state solution on the historical land of Palestine — the state of Israel and the state of Palestine with sovereignty over the West Bank and Gaza.
Second, the Palestinian recognition of Israel and its right to live in security and stability behind safe borders, and to be a partner in the Middle East region, is irrevocable, regardless of what is being said by extremist groups that will quickly die out when peace prevails.
Third, any talk of the return of four million refugees to Israel is baseless. The issue of Palestinian refugees must be settled through serious and practical discussions between all concerned parties, and we, Israelis and Palestinians together, must find a solution to this problem within the framework of the sovereignty of the two states and their best interests.
Fourth, the Palestinians want to achieve their legitimate right to self-determination on the lands occupied by Israel in 1967 and to which Security Council resolution 242 applies — a resolution adopted unanimously — with Israel’s consent.
Fifth, the Palestinians are willing to accept any international, American-European-Russian, or even just American arrangement, aimed at reassuring Israel, to control security matters on Palestine’s international borders with Jordan and Egypt, for a time period that Israel approves of for even more reassurance.
Sixth, the Palestinians will agree to similar arrangements with the United States, or with other international parties acceptable to Israel, related to areas Israel considers to be of strategic security importance, such as the Jordan Valley.
The Palestinian people and their elected authority want a peace based on international legitimacy. They want to live side by side with the Israelis, and want to establish economic, cultural and development cooperation with them. The two countries and the two peoples’ cooperation will undoubtedly raise the development and economic standard not only in Israel and Palestine, but also in the entire Middle East.
I therefore call on the Israelis and Palestinians to reject violence, return to political negotiations and not to waste the opportunity for peace. Let us give peace a chance.
The killing of civilians is condemned and rejected and must be stopped whether it is in Hadera, Jerusalem, Haifa or anywhere in Israel. The same goes for the killing of civilians in Rafah, Khan Younis, Beit Reema and other places.
Let us put an end to such killing and return to dialogue and negotiations, and respect each other. Let us stop this tragedy that has made many forget their humanity and has turned them into creatures acting only on instinct. Once again I call on everyone to give peace a chance.
