On Wednesday, February 21st, 2007 the Geneva Initiative held a joint meeting between Israeli and Palestinian high-level officials, in Jerusalem in order to discuss the possibility of resuming negotiations between Israel and the PA further to recent political developments. Among the themes which were discussed is the Mecca Agreement, the future establishment of a Palestinian Unity Government and the implications this has for the region.
Participants on the Israeli side included MKs Yossi Beilin, Haim Oron, Amira Dotan and Abshalom Vilan, GI Signatories and GI Director-General Gadi Baltiansky.
Palestinian participants included MPs Abdullah Abdullah and Jihad Abu Zaniyad, Former PA Minister Kaddoura Fares, Former Secretary of the Cabinet and Director of the Portland Trust Samir Hulaileh, Coordinator of the Presidential Chambers Mahmoud Yassin, Head of the Women's Union in the PA Rim Ala'bushi, academicians and journalists.
Participants described the meeting as "important and significant" owing to the analyses, ideas and views exchanged with respect to the possibilities and future steps which need to be taken in order to renew the Israeli-Palestinian political process. Of significant importance were the discussions on the Mecca agreement and the consensual understanding that this agreement provides the Israeli Government with an address on the other side that was previously lacking.
The Israeli participants voiced their opinion that the government of Israel should consider the Palestinian Unity Government as an address for future negotiations. This Unity Government presents Israel and the Palestinians with a new opportunity, even if the scope and the structure of this Unity Government is not yet entirely clear. The current approach adopted by the Israeli Government, which dismissed the Palestinian Unity Government, will possibly change.
Some of the Palestinian participants described certain changes in the Hamas which according to them is aligning with the idea of "two states for two peoples". If this is the case, it is in Israel's interest to conduct negotiations with the authorized representatives of the Unity Government – its Fatah members, who have a mandate from Hamas to conduct negotiations with Israel.
The Palestinians also have obligations with respect to the Palestinian Unity Government in that they have to strengthen and adhere to a Government with control over the situation on the ground. The Palestinian Unity Government will have to restrain the Kassam rockets on Southern Israel and resolve the issue of the kidnapped Israeli soldier, Corporal Gilad Shalit. The returning of the Israeli soldier will facilitate discussions between the two Governments.
Should negotiations resume, participants discussed issues which should immediately be raised to the agenda. All agreed that idealistically negotiations should center on a permanent status agreement with creative solutions to counter the complex and harsh reality on the ground.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides agreed to continue meeting with one another on a regular basis.
