On May 2nd, 2007 MK Dr. Yossi Beilin, Head of the Meretz-Yahad Party and Chief Architect of the Geneva Accord on the Israeli side met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Muq'ata.

Yossi Beilin and President Abbas

During the course of the meeting President Abbas stated his belief that a deal to return Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for Palestinian prisoners will be finalized in the very near period.

Beilin, President Abbas, Abed Rabbo & Gadi Baltiansky

Further to the current political situation in Israel, President Abbas stated that the Palestinians will be willing to work with any chosen Israeli leader.

The meeting between the two took place following a press conference at the PMC in Ramallah in which PLO Executive Committee Member and Head of the Palestinian Peace Coalition (PPC), Yasser Abed Rabbo, and Mr. Beilin called for the resumption of permanent status negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis.

Joint Press Conference of Yossi Beilin And Yasser Abed Rabbo

Mr. Abed Rabbo stressed that the revived Arab Peace Initiative is considered a historical opportunity that should not be wasted to resume the peace process, which will enable the Palestinians and Israelis to put an end to the 40 year-old conflict:

“The Arab Peace Initiative shows clearly that there is a real Arab readiness to achieve comprehensive peace through serious political process... opinion polls show that over two thirds of the Palestinian and Israeli publics support reaching a deal within the parameters of the Arab Peace Initiative,”

Abed Rabbo also mentioned that his meeting with Dr. Beilin “is part of the continuous consultations with members of the Israeli peace camp.”

Regarding a legitimate partner on the Palestinian side, Abed Rabbo stressed that the current Palestinian leadership “has full authority and ability to hold negotiations”, pointing out that the Mecca agreement “grants the Palestinian president and the PLO full authority to conduct negotiations.”

Beilin And Abed Rabbo Adressing the Press Outside the Muq'ata

MK Beilin called for not wasting “the current chance to reach peace between the two people.” “I believe that there is a golden opportunity but this doesn’t mean that we will reach peace tomorrow.”

The veteran Israeli politician stressed that the Arab Peace Initiative is “one of the most positive factors in the current time because it shows the Arab readiness to accept and reach peace with Israel.” Beilin further pointed out that there are seventy Israeli Knesset Members “who are ready to go far to reach a peace agreement with their Arab neighbors” within the parameters of the Arab Peace Initiative.

Regarding the Israeli soldier Gilad Shailt, Beilin called for trust-building steps between Palestinians and Israelis that will include reaching full calm in Gaza and the West Bank in addition to the release of the Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit and Palestinian prisoners.

The press conference was attended by Palestinian youth, representatives from the local media bodies, and representatives from the PPC Board of Directors, and members of the GI executive offices in Ramallah and Tel Aviv.