On October 7, 2023, a new earth-shattering chapter in the history of violent encounters between Palestinians and Israelis took place and launched the most devastating war in the history of these two peoples. Now, almost one year later following that horrific day, too many thousands of people have been killed on both sides.
The Gaza Strip has been destroyed, most of its inhabitants have become refugees once again, there are now about two million homeless Gazans [according to the UN]. Tens of thousands of Israelis [according to the Tel Aviv authorities] have also become homeless, forced to leave their destroyed and burned homes.
We didn’t know each other in the past in the official positions that we both held in service of our people. Our professional paths did not cross and bring us to work together, until now. In our mutual search to find a partner on the other side of the conflict to work together, with mutual respect, for the purpose of finding a breakthrough towards ending the war in Gaza, and beginning renewed negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority with the aspiration of reaching an agreement that will put a final end to the violent conflict between our two peoples.
Determining the best strategic path
We know that this will lead to the creation of a front of moderate states in the region, including Saudi Arabia, and additional Muslim countries together with the State of Israel and the State of Palestine, making our whole region more stable, more secure, and more prosperous for all of its peoples.
In our societies, Israel and Palestine, there is a great propensity for destroying any politician who steps outside of comfortable consensus through the most extreme form of ridicule and criticism. During war time consensus is rallying around the flag and any swaying from absolute support of the war effort is likened to treason.
The suggestion of a radical change of course is viewed as capitulation or granting the other side victory. But the true test of leadership is not following public opinion, guiding your words by public opinion polls, but rather by determining the best strategic path for your nation’s future and presenting it boldly and without fear.
We, two former leaders who have served our people faithfully for decades, have come together with a shared vision and a proposal that challenges our tragic reality and has the potential to change our nations, our region, and in fact the world.
We begin with the very basics. The war in Gaza must end. The Israeli hostages held in Hamas captivity must be returned to their families. Israel will have to release the agreed number of Palestinian prisoners. Israel must withdraw from Gaza, and the Palestinians will create a new, responsible and legitimate entity in Gaza, which is not composed of politicians from any of the Palestinian factions, and will be organically linked to the Palestinian Authority but independent enough to gain the acceptance of the Palestinian people, the Arab neighbors, and the international community.
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