On Friday, April 13th, 2007, Geneva Initiative organized a working-meeting between high-level Israeli and Palestinian officials at the Ambassador Hotel in Jerusalem.

Israeli participants included MK Yossi Beilin (Meretz); MK Colette Avital (Labor); and MK Haim Oron (Meretz).

Palestinian participants included PLC Member Yasser Abed Rabbo, Member of Parliament Abdullah Abdullah, Former PA Minister Kadoura Fares and Former Director of the PA Office of Cabinet Coordination Jamal Zakout.

During the meeting the sides discussed the recent political developments and brainstormed the opportunities which lie in the current situation to leverage the peace process.

The Palestinian representatives noted the importance of the Unity Government in that it provides an address which unifies and represents the entire Palestinian public, and in that it serves as an official address with which Israel can negotiate. So too was the upcoming period which marks 40 years to the occupation noted as a window of opportunity to advance a joint agenda.

The Israeli representatives noted that the current developments pose an important and valuable opportunity to advance negotiations between the sides. Should PM Olmert's statements about embarking on a dialogue with the Arab states on one hand and with President Abbas on the other materialize, substantial progress on the peace process can be achieved. Nevertheless, the upcoming period in Israel is a crucial one in determining the future of the Israeli leadership in that the Winograd Report is to be published towards the end of April and the primaries for Labor are scheduled to take place towards the end of May.  

GI Israeli and Palestinian representatives at the working meeting at the Ambassador Hotel in Jerusalem, April 13th, 2007