Insights

The Palestinian threat is not an existential one, but nonetheless, we cannot allow for the chance of rockets being fired from the West Bank into Israel.

Arabs, as reflected in the Arab Peace Initiative state that Israel will get the recognition and security it desires when it fulfills the requirements of the Initiative – in other words, gaining recognition, peace and security is the outcome of the process.

Research, inquiry and investigation must be part of the way we teach about each other to promote education for tolerance, understanding and peace.

Now is the time to demonstrate that the international community has the tools and the determination to lead us all to a more peaceful future.

The people of Israel elected a right-wing government which can but does not want and the Palestinian people elected a Hamas-led government that also probably could but doesn’t want.

A Security Council Resolution that is maybe far-fetched, but not beyond imagination.

I know first-hand that Olmert had a real alternative to the war in Gaza. Instead of the war there could have been a secret direct back channel for talks with Hamas that would have enabled the extension of the ceasefire, the end of the economic siege of Gaza and the return of Gilad Schalit in exchange for the same prisoner release that could have brought him home.

We need an international community that will provide the assurances, guarantees, mechanisms and pressure that will enable our new government to truly provide the people of Israel with the peace and security promised in each and every election campaign.