Could letting Israel/Palestine vote on Peace Agreement work?

Date: March 06, 2009 at 16:13:15
From: CNI, []
Subject: Could letting Israel/Palestine vote on Peace Agreement work?

URL: http://www.mifkad.org.il/eng/

Nusseibeh & Ayalon

On 25 June 2003, Ayalon launched, together with Palestinian professor Sari Nusseibeh, a peace initiative called "The People's Voice" The goal of the initiative is to collect as many signatures of Israelis and Palestinians as possible for the peace plan guidelines supporting a two-state solution without the right of return for Palestinian refugees. The initiative was also but to a poll and received overwhelming support from both Israeli's and Palestinians, but not adopted by their respective elected officials.

On 14 November 2003, Ami Ayalon with three other former heads of the Israeli Security Agency (ISA), Avraham Shalom, Yaakov Peri and Carmi Gillon gave an interview to Yedioth Ahron Yedioth Ahronoth(one of the leading tabloid newspapers in Israel) based on the paper prepared by Ami Ayalon and Sari Nusseibeh. The interview was conducted by Alex Fishman and Sima Kadmon. In that interview, the former Security Chiefs warn of an impending "catastrophe" for Israel and urge the public to rally behind a document created which sets out the principles of a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. The blunt language and statements of grave concern are particularly striking because the ISA is the non-political nerve center of Israeli intelligence, and is the agency responsible both for gathering intelligence and for preventing terrorist attacks - including by such controversial means as targeted killings and other preventive measures. While the interview has been widely quoted, rough translations have only appeared on isolated list servers and websites, and the full power of the meeting - called "historic" by its participants has often been diluted.

Nusseibeh and Ayalon rejuvenated their proposal of a possible vote on a Peace Agreement between Israel/Palestine. Although the movement is opposed by government officials, it is an interesting method to examine.

The Nusseibeh/Ayalon Grassroots Petition (The People's Voice)

The Nusseibeh/Ayalon Initiative (also known as The Peoples' Voice) is a grassroots petition drive headed by Sari Nusseibeh (President of Al Quds University in Jerusalem) and Ami Ayalon (former chief of the Navy and General Security Chief--Shin Bet). The Peoples' Voice calls for an end to the conflict and a two-state solution. So far the initiative has collected thousands of signatures among Israelis and Palestinians.

Cover Letter

The Palestinian people and the Jewish people each recognize the other's historic rights with respect to the same land.

The Jewish people has for generations wanted to establish the Jewish State in all the Land of Israel, while the Palestinian people have similarly wanted to establish a state in all of Palestine.

The two sides hereby agree to accept a historic compromise based on the principle of two sovereign and viable states existing side by side. The following Statement of Intentions is an expression of the will of the majority of the people. Both sides believe that through this initiative they can influence their leaders and thereby open a new chapter in the region's history. This new chapter will be realized by calling on the international community to guarantee security in the region and to help in rehabilitating and developing the region's economy.

The People's Voice -- Statement of Intentions

1) Two states for two peoples: Both sides will declare that Palestine is the only state of the Palestinian people and Israel is the only state of the Jewish people.

2)Borders: Permanent borders between the two states will be agreed upon on the basis of the June 4, 1967 lines, UN resolutions, and the Arab peace initiative (known as the Saudi initiative).
· *Border modifications will be based on an equitable and agreed-upon territorial exchange (1:1) in accordance with the vital needs of both sides, including security, territorial contiguity, and demographic considerations.

· *The Palestinian State will have a connection between its two geographic areas, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

· *After establishment of the agreed borders, no settlers will remain in the Palestinian State.

3)Jerusalem: Jerusalem will be an open city, the capital of two states. Freedom of religion and full access to holy sites will be guaranteed to all.
· Arab neighborhoods in Jerusalem will come under Palestinian sovereignty, Jewish neighborhoods under Israeli sovereignty.

4)Right of return: Recognizing the suffering and the plight of the Palestinian refugees, the international community, Israel, and the Palestinian State will initiate and contribute to an international fund to compensate them.
· *Palestinian refugees will return only to the State of Palestine; Jews will return only to the State of Israel.

· *The international community will offer to compensate toward bettering the lot of those refugees willing to remain in their present country of residence, or who wish to immigrate to third-party countries.

5)The Palestinian State will be demilitarized and the international community will guarantee its security and independence.

6)End of conflict: Upon the full implementation of these principles, all claims on both sides and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will end.
· Neither side will exercise sovereignty over the holy places. The State of Palestine will be designated Guardian of al-Haram al-Sharif for the benefit of Muslims. Israel will be the Guardian of the Western Wall for the benefit of the Jewish people. The status quo on Christian holy site will be maintained. No excavation will take place in or underneath the holy sites without mutual consent.

The Peoples' Voice Website: http://www.mifkad.org.il/eng/

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