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Peres Says Israelis Must Overcome Skepticism About Peace Peres Says Israelis Must Overcome Skepticism About Peace
(about 1 hour later)
DEAD SEA, Jordan – President Shimon Peres of Israel said Sunday that there was an urgent need for peace with the Palestinians and that Israelis “have to overcome skepticism and doubt” to end the long conflict by establishing “two states for two peoples.” DEAD SEA, Jordan — President Shimon Peres of Israel said Sunday that there was an urgent need for peace with the Palestinians and that Israelis “have to overcome skepticism and doubt” to end the long conflict by establishing “two states for two peoples.”
“We shouldn’t be cynical,” Mr. Peres, an advocate of the two-state solution, said as he arrived for a conference of the World Economic Forum. “We shouldn’t lose the opportunity because it will be replaced by a great disappointment.”“We shouldn’t be cynical,” Mr. Peres, an advocate of the two-state solution, said as he arrived for a conference of the World Economic Forum. “We shouldn’t lose the opportunity because it will be replaced by a great disappointment.”
Mr. Peres is scheduled to speak Sunday night along with Secretary of State John Kerry, who is expected to offer highlights of an economic initiative for the Palestinian territories after two months of an intense effort to revive the peace process that has included four visits to the region. President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority and King Abdullah of Jordan are also expected to attend the session, where some 300 Israeli and Palestinian business leaders plan to issue an call for a resumption of negotiations. Mr. Peres is scheduled to speak Sunday evening alongside Secretary of State John Kerry, who planned to present highlights of an economic initiative for the Palestinian territories after two months of an intense effort to revive the peace process that included four visits to the region. Mr. Kerry has said that he hopes to pursue economic and political tracks in parallel, reigniting peace talks while developing agricultural, tourism and technology businesses in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Many Israeli and Palestinian leaders who are dubious about the prospect of negotiations have been waiting to hear details of the economic proposals.
The Israeli and Palestinian presidents were also scheduled to meet privately Sunday afternoon, their first face-to-face encounter in more than a year, according to an aide to Mr. Peres. President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority and King Abdullah II of Jordan are also expected to attend the session, before which a group of some 300 Israeli and Palestinian business leaders plan to issue their own call for a resumption of negotiations.
The chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat, said Sunday afternoon that he did not expect any new ideas from the conference and that he did “not see any sign of optimism” around Mr. Kerry’s peace initiative. Still, Mr. Erekat said “there is no harm in giving Kerry time for his efforts to bear fruit.” Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, said Mr. Peres “should focus on one thing — convincing his prime minister,” Benjamin Netanyahu, of the need for a two-state solution along the pre-1967 borders.
“We are waiting for him to finish his efforts, and we are supportive of his efforts,” Mr. Erekat said. “At the end of the day, his success means that we will get rid of the Israeli occupation.” “He has no problem with Jordan, Palestinians, Egypt, Europeans, Americans — everyone is convinced that the solution is two states on 1967,” Mr. Erekat said. “The only one who needs to be convinced, and I urge Mr. Peres to exert every possible effort to convince him, is the prime minister of Israel saying he accepts two states on 1967.”
Mr. Kerry has said that he hopes to pursue economic and political tracks in parallel, reigniting peace talks while developing agricultural, tourism and technology businesses in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Many Israeli and Palestinian leaders who are dubious about the prospect of negotiations have been waiting to hear details of the economic proposals, which Mr. Kerry said in early April he would detail within weeks. “He needs to say it,” Mr. Erekat added.
While he role of the Israeli president is largely ceremonial, Mr. Peres met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday to “coordinate” the Jordan trip, according to his aides. Mr. Netanyahu also met last week with others attending the World Economic Forum conference, which drew some 800 people from 60 countries, including 70 government ministers. Mr. Netanyahu has said that he supported the two states idea, but has described the Palestinians’ insistence that negotiations begin with the 1967 borders as an unacceptable precondition. Mr. Peres, whose role as president is largely ceremonial, met for two hours on Friday with Mr. Netanyahu to “coordinate” the Jordan trip, according to his aides. Mr. Netanyahu also met last week with others attending the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa, which drew some 800 people from 60 countries, including 70 government ministers.
Mr. Erekat, who is close to Mr. Abbas, played down the Israeli president’s role, saying “it should come from the Israeli government, not from Peres.”
“What is needed is for Netanyahu to accept and agree to the 1967 borders and stop the settlement construction,” Mr. Erekat said, repeating an often-heard Palestinian position.
President Peres had arrived by helicopter hours earlier, and scores of journalists crowded in a lobby of the King Hussein Convention Center on the picturesque edge of the Dead Sea to chronicle his brief statement.President Peres had arrived by helicopter hours earlier, and scores of journalists crowded in a lobby of the King Hussein Convention Center on the picturesque edge of the Dead Sea to chronicle his brief statement.
“As far as the Palestinians are concerned we have a functioning beginning and an agreed solution,” President Peres, 89, said in a soft voice. “The solution is the two-state solution – living in peace and dignity. I am aware of the missing links residing between the two ends. From my experience I believe it is possible to overcome them.“As far as the Palestinians are concerned we have a functioning beginning and an agreed solution,” President Peres, 89, said in a soft voice. “The solution is the two-state solution – living in peace and dignity. I am aware of the missing links residing between the two ends. From my experience I believe it is possible to overcome them.
“It doesn’t require too much time,” he said. “It is the real interest of all parties concerned. This is an important opportunity to reiterate our will, not to waste time and to return to negotiations and complete the peace process with the Palestinians based on two states for two peoples – an Israeli state and a Palestinian state living as good neighbors and cooperating economically for the good of future generations.”“It doesn’t require too much time,” he said. “It is the real interest of all parties concerned. This is an important opportunity to reiterate our will, not to waste time and to return to negotiations and complete the peace process with the Palestinians based on two states for two peoples – an Israeli state and a Palestinian state living as good neighbors and cooperating economically for the good of future generations.”