Nidal Foqaha, Director-General of the PPC-GI delivered an opening speech in which he stressed the PPC-GI’s vision to create the widest coalition of moderate and rationale voices supportive of the two state solution, as well as the importance of networking with the international community and cooperating with the Israeli peace partners. Going through the list of already completed annexes, Foqaha highlighted the significance of the annexes as enlightening guidelines for future negotiations for leaderships in both Palestine and Israel, as well as to all international stakeholders.

 

Roland Steininger, representative of Switzerland to the Palestinian Authority spoke on the Swiss stance regarding the Geneva Initiative and the peace process in general stating that the Geneva Initiative had two main aims: 1) to illustrate that the Palestinian side is a serious peace partner to Israel and the international community and 2) to show that the realization of the two-state solution is an attainable and palpable objective. Steininger stated that the Geneva Initiative annexes’ chief merit is offering credible proposals to alleviate or overcome the fears of both sides on issues of security, Jerusalem and territorial contiguity.

 

Dr. Samih Abid, GI Signatory and member of the Palestinian negotiating teams stressed the Palestinian intention to reach an agreement with Israel. Abid stated that this could be on a regional scale within the framework of the Arab Peace Initiative if the Palestinian issue is resolved.

 

Dr. Nazmi Al Jubeh, GI Signatory and expert on Jerusalem affairs, stated that the solution lies in Jerusalem and namely in the holy sites, which are located at the core of the old city. This Old City – according to Dr. Jubeh, is only one square Km, in which 39 thousand persons are living, out of them 3 thousand Israelis, while 60% of the area is public buildings and 12% is the area of the Jewish quarter. Jubeh stressed that this hard reality in the Old City led to several social and economic problems.

 

On the internal front, Jibreel Rojoob, Fatah Central Committee Member stressed on the dire need to put an end for the internal split, and taking whatever necessary measures to mitigate the impacts of the same. Rojoob stated that there are two forms of the reconciliation, one is with a regional framework as stipulated in the Egyptian paper and the second national that brings together all Palestinian factions, highlighting that the main mistake which led to the failure of Mecca agreement was that it didn’t include all factions.

 

Yasser Abed Rabbo, Secretary General of the PLO, GI Co-Architect and Head of PPC-GI presented in detail the recent efforts for resuming negotiations stating that “if the efforts being exerted currently on the way to peace wouldn’t lead to something tangible within 3 to 4 months, the situation will be very risky”. Abed Rabbo stated that we are the one who wants a political solution and negotiations, and so far Netanyahu is obstructing such efforts by continuing settlement building. Abed Rabbo reiterated that the Palestinians as well as the international community insist on stopping settlement construction not only because it is biased but because unless this activity is stopped the establishment of a contiguous Palestinian State will not be possible. Abed Rabbo called on the US administration to intensify efforts, and to coordinate with the quartet in order to reach a solution.

 

Abed Rabbo stressed that the core issue of negotiations is borders – as defined by the international resolutions – with an equal swap of land between the two sides as stipulated in the Geneva Initiative model.

 

The conference which was held in the Grand Park Hotel in Ramallah was attended by some 200 participants including representatives of political factions, civil society, young and women leaders in addition to representatives of the diplomatic community both in Ramallah and East Jerusalem. The conference was open to the media and received coverage by different press outlets.

Click here for the full conference program.

 

 

Geneva Initiative Conference in Ramallah. Above from left to right: Dr. Samih Abid, Swiss Representative Roland Steininger and PPC-GI Director-General Nidal Foqaha. Below from left to right: Secretary General of the PLO and GI Co-Architect Yasser Abed Rabbo, Fatah Central Committee Member Jibreel Rojoob and PPC-GI Director-General Nidal Foqaha