The Road to September: Geneva Initiative...

The conference, which drew over 200 people, dealt with the implications of political deadlock ahead of the PA's intention to seek recognition for a Palestinian state within '67 borders from the United Nations this September.

 

In addition to former French Foreign Minister Barnard Kushner, Fatah Central Committee Member Saeb Erekat, and Geneva Initaitive Chairman Yossi Beilin, Switzerland's Special Envoy to the Middle East Jean-Daniel Roche and Ambassador of France to Israel Christophe Bigot addressed participants.

 

Gadi Baltiansky, Director General of the Geneva Initiative in Israel, argued that although the Israeli discourse has focused attention on the question of what will happen after September, there is no practical discussion providing ideas about what can be done before September. He said that the uniqueness of the Geneva Initiative is that it tries to find real solutions to the conflict, to meet Israel's interests, and that itis not satisfied sitting on the sidelines doing nothing, as some elements of the Israeli leadership are.

 

Kouchner said that when the Geneva Initiative agreement was reached in 2003 it gave hope for building a better future to the Middle East because it provides a solution to all issues related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflit. Kouchner stressed that the response to Israel's security problems is the establishment of a Palestinian state along the lines of the Geneva Initiative concerning demilitarization and appropriate security arrangements. He said the greatest danger lies at Israel's doorstep is the political isolation, and called on the Israeli government to open a diplomatic initiative that would prevent this isolation.

 

In his remarks, Erekat said that it would be possible to sign a peace agreement within two days, therefore there is no need for a further negotiations. He stressed that the solution to the conflict is the two-state solution, in which a Palestinian state will be established on '67 lines that will live in peace alongside Israel. He expressed disappointment in Netanyahu's reaction to the reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas, and attacked him for saying prior to reconciliation that he could not negotiate with the Palestinian Authority because that did not represent the entire Palestinian people, and now continuing to claim that Israel can not talk with the Palestinian Authority. He noted that the price of continued conflict is very high for both sides and there is a real need to end it. Regarding developments in the Arab world, Erekat said that this is a historic moment in which people took to the streets not for a livelihood but to demand democracy, and anyone who says that Arabs are not ready for democracy is a racist. He added that this is a significant development for Israel, as democracy and peace go together.

 

Video of his speech can be found in three parts:

 

 

 

 

Beilin said the Palestinian efforts at the UN came as a result of the lack of a peace peace process, and that the Palestinians can not be expected tto wait and do nothing to promote their interest in establishing an independent state. Beilin said the current Palestinian leadership has abandoned the path of violence and Israel can negotiate with it. He warned that if no action will be taken before September, something bad will happen, and that the best way to prevent surprises in September is signing a permanent agreement. He argued that other alternatives, such as interim agreements, do not provide a satisfactory response to all challenges of conflict. The temporary option is a bad option, since there will be no such clauses as exist in the Geneva Initiative regarding the end of the conflict and an end to claims of both sides.

 

Roche said that if diplomatic initiative is not taken before September, it might increase international pressure on Israel and attempts to boycott it. Referring to the issue of delegitimization, he argued that no sensible politician in Switzerland does not support Israel's right to exist, Europe's interest is in ending the occupation and creating a situation in which Israel will live in peace with its neighbors.

 

 

 

The event was widely covered in the English press: