Return the mandate to the people

It is not yet too late for Israel to convey to Qatar and Egypt that it is ready to adopt the three-week deal that Hamas agreed to in September.

In three weeks, all the hostages – living and dead – can be released, the Palestinian prisoners who have been agreed to be released can be released, the war can end and the Israeli army can withdraw from Gaza. Israel can also initiate a regional-international conference with neighboring countries and the Palestinian Authority on the future of Gaza – the reconstruction and the alternative Palestinian government that should govern Gaza instead of Hamas.

This will of course lead to the fall of Netanyahu’s coalition, but this is actually the will of the majority in Israel. If Netanyahu is so confident in his abilities and the people’s support for him, let him bring this chapter to an end and return the mandate to the people.

Categories: Insights

Gershon Baskin

Gershon Baskin is one of the most recognizable names in the Middle East Peace process. He is a political and social entrepreneur who has dedicated his life to peace between Israel and its neighbors. His dedication to creating a culture of peace and environmental awareness, coupled with his impeccable integrity, has earned him the trust of the leaders of all sides of the century old conflict. Few people have such far-reaching and positive impacts on promoting peace, security, prosperity and bi-national relationships. Gershon is an advisor to Israeli, Palestinian and International Prime Ministers on the Middle East Peace Process and the founder and director of IPCRI, the Israeli-Palestinian Public Policy Institute. He was the initiator and negotiator of the secret back channel between Israel and Hamas for the release of 1,027 prisoners – mainly Palestinians and Arab-Israelis of which 280 were sentenced to life in prison, including Yahya Sinwar, the current Palestinian leader of the Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The prisoners were imprisoned for planning and perpetrating various attacks against Jewish targets that resulted in the killing of 569 Israelis in exchange for one Israeli soldier, Gilad Schalit. Gershon is actively involved in research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, environmental security, political strategy, peace education, economics, culture and in the development of affordable solar projects with the goal of providing clean electricity for 50 million people by 2020. He is a founding member of Kol Ezraheiha-Kol Muwanteneiha (All of the Citizens) political party in Israel. He is now directing The Holy Land Bond and is the Middle East Director for ICO – International Communities Organization - a UK based NGO working in conflict zones with failed peace processes.