December 14, 2007

At the moment, and in all other moments that have culminated in this one, words have comprised the backbone of the somewhat spineless Israeli-Palestinian process. Now that the Annapolis meeting is over, the time has come for our leaders to talk less and do more… Luckily for all stakeholders involved, the wheel did not need to be re-invented in Annapolis. The parameters outlined in previous negotiations form a firm foundation for any agreement. …

In contrast to previous milestones, the post-Annapolis period must mark a milestone where words, speeches, and declarations are leveraged into a sustainable, pragmatic process.

With the help of the United States, the international community, and the moderate Arab world, our leaders are currently faced with an exquisite opportunity to lead the Israeli public into a new era: An era in which Israel will live in peace alongside Palestine; An era in which a growing part of the state budget is allocated to education, health, welfare, infrastructure, industry and the development of the Negev and the Galilee; An era in which 22 Arab Embassies will be established in western Jerusalem; A time where compulsory military service will be shortened and Israel’s borders and capital will finally be recognized by the international community. Access the full article>>



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“We knew at the outset that the task would be difficult. We acknowledged that publicly and privately. We knew this would be a road with many bumps— and there have been many bumps—and that continues to this day. But we are not deterred. We are, to the contrary, determined more than ever to proceed to realize the common objective, which we all share, of a Middle East that is at peace with security and prosperity for the people of Israel, for Palestinians, and for all the people in the region. We will continue our efforts in that regard, undeterred and undaunted by the difficulties, the complexities or the bumps in the road.”—George Mitchell, special envoy for Middle East peace, remarks with Prime Minister Netanyahu, September 29, 2010

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