Origin and Goals of the Statement Calling for Mutual Recognition and Moderation in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

This statement was put together by, and has received some early endorsements from, a group of concerned individuals with very different backgrounds; among them are Christians, Jews, Muslims and others (see list after the statement). Our hope is to make a contribution towards a negotiated peaceful solution of the conflict. We hope for an immediate end to the violence and bloodshed, a courageous and patient effort by all to build the trust necessary for a true peace between Israel and a Palestinian state, and a sustained effort by the international community to bring peace, prosperity and democracy to the whole region.

Our immediate goal is to get a very broad spectrum of people, who have widely differing perspectives on this conflict, to endorse this statement. In view of this it clearly cannot contain all the things that each of us would like to include. We believe however that even an imperfect joint statement, by people from both sides of the conflict and caring outsiders, will have a positive impact. It will show moderates from both sides that they are not alone and will encourage them to work for a peace with justice and compassion. For this reason we plan to disseminate and publicize the statement as widely as we can, both via the media and by direct mailings to government officials, policy makers, and opinion setters.

Statement

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A Call for Moderation

We believe that any just and stable solution to this conflict must include the establishment of a viable democratic Palestinian state, coexisting peacefully with a viable democratic Israel with approximately the pre-1967 border. The crucial issues of security, exact borders, removal of settlements, compensation for settlers and refugees, etc. must be resolved by negotiations.

We neither know, nor are we competent to prescribe, how to get from the present intolerable situation to the desired just solution. We do know that this task is not a simple one; it will require taking into account the causes of the failure of the Oslo process as well as the resulting fears and grievances built up on both sides. We also believe that Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace, as do the French and Germans, Greeks and Turks, despite a history of many bloody wars and hated occupations. It will require a historic compromise in which each party gets less than it honestly believes it deserves and much less than what the extremists on both sides are ready to settle for at the present time.

We support all peaceful actions which are directed towards this goal and oppose all actions aimed at the destruction or delegitimization of Israel or the removal, humiliation or subjugation, whether political, economic or social, of the Palestinians. We strongly deplore the intentional (as well as unintentional) killings and maimings of innocent people. We consider innocent Israeli and Palestinian lives equally precious and express our deepest sorrow to all the grieving families and friends.

We strongly urge both sides to take immediate steps, both unilateral and joint, designed to stop the killings and start the negotiations aimed towards the goals described above. We also call on the international community to use its strongest persuasive powers to induce and help both parties carry out these steps.

In addition we ask both parties to take unilateral steps to develop trust and encourage moderates. Such steps might include the following:

1. An immediate halt to the enlargement of Israeli settlements outside the 1967 border as well as a symbolic dismantling of some of them with their structures turned over to the Palestinians. The Palestinians in turn should reciprocate with a similar positive gesture.
2. Both sides should make an immediate major effort to shield children from the rigors of the conflict. In particular they should create conditions in which schools can function and ensure that children are provided with adequate meals and supplies.
3. An immediate halt to the use of texts, symbols and rhetoric in public discourse and educational materials which derogate or deny the legitimacy of the other side.
4. Endorsement of contacts and joint projects involving Israelis and Palestinians on both individual and institutional levels.

We call on our colleagues of all nationalities and beliefs, as well as on Arab, Muslim and Jewish organizations everywhere, to join us in denouncing any military or absolutist solution to this conflict, to recognize and speak out about the humanity and sufferings of both peoples and to work together for a just peace.

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