The issue of Jerusalem is one of the central pieces of any possible Palestinian-Israeli peace. Jerusalem must become the capital of both Palestine and Israel in order for there to be peace.
It’s extremely difficult to find a single Palestinian who believes current Israeli-Palestinian negotiations will produce an agreement.
Now what is left to do is to convince both publics that reaching a negotiated agreement is really possible and not to allow our leaders the opportunity of missing another opportunity.
With success in Syria, the international community might even become bolder in dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian issue. It has been said that when asked his opinion about the Iran-Iraq war, prime minister Menachem Begin responded: I wish both sides the greatest success. That seems to be the position of many Read more
Kalandiya is a refugee camp located on the other side of the separation wall in the West Bank. The entire area is Palestinian.
In Egypt, democracy is fighting to save democracy. It is a lesson well worth observing because there are other parts of the region which are calling for the same thing. Right next door to us in Gaza there are young people adopting the Tamarod (the movement in Egypt behind the June 30 revolution) who call for an uprising against Hamas. We should all hope that they are successful.
Peace in Jerusalem is the key to Israeli-Palestinian peace. That key is on the table and waiting to be used.
Economic growth and hopes for prosperity are important, perhaps even essential, but not enough to bring us peace.
Negotiators often get lost in the task of negotiating. The details consume their attention – and this is necessary. It is essential that the agreements are explicit and understood in the same way by both parties.
While Netanyahu is negotiating with Palestinians, his former friends, political allies will be organizing creation of a Palestinian state.