By Eylon Shamir
SAN DIEGO — As an Israeli who resides in San Diego I’m a fervent believer that the future of Israel as a secure and democratic homeland for the Jewish people can only be achieved by resolving the Israel-Palestinian conflict and establishing the state of Palestine within the 1967 lines alongside the state of Israel. Because I believe the time is ripe for a resolution, I packed my bags in late September and traveled to the 4th annual J Street National Conference in Washington D.C.
The conference was incredibly exhilarating, with more than 2,800 attendees including 900 students representing UC San Diego and more than 50 other J Street University chapters.
It is the second largest event held by any Jewish organization; for an organization that was only founded five years ago this is an impressive achievement.
The conference was aptly timed to respond to Secretary of State John Kerry’s plea, in his passionate speech this June to the American Jewish Committee Global Form, for American Jews to build a “constituency for peace” that will ensure broad political support for the renewed peace negotiations.
The current peace negotiations, which started at the beginning of September, are planned to last no longer than nine months. Their goal is clear: establishment of two states and final agreement on all the difficult core issues.
The J Street conference was addressed by Vice President Joe Biden and a long list of distinguished and prominent US Senators and Representatives; members of Israel’s Knesset from both the governing coalition and opposition parties; and even a representative of the Ultra-Orthodox party Shas. We also heard from Palestinian officials and the official spokesman of the Arab League.
Vice President Biden reiterated the full commitment of President Obama and Secretary Kerry to the negotiations. He said that this issue is a top priority of the administration’s foreign policy. The only viable solution that will secure a democratic and Jewish state in Israel and end the conflict will be the founding of a prosperous Palestinian state on the basis of 1967 borders.
The Israeli government representative, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who is also the Israeli chief peace negotiator, urged the American Jewish community to speak. “Those who love Israel must search for peace,” she said.
Knesset Member Zahava Gal-on, the leader of the Meretz party, eloquently said: “Even if Israel’s future will forever be secured and Israel’s interest will forever be protected, that in itself will not be enough. Israel must end the occupation because it contradicts any humane and Jewish values that we stand for and the status-quo erodes the moral foundation of Israel.”
Of course, after decades of failed negotiations many people are skeptical about the outcome of this current round of negotiations. Ambassador Martin Indyk, the special U.S. envoy to the negotiation, proposed the following compelling reasons why, this time around, the negotiations stand a much better chance of a positive outcome.
First, President Obama and Secretary Kerry have made an unprecedented commitment to the negotiations.
Second, both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmood Abbas are politically stronger than ever within their constituencies. This was confirmed by all the Knesset members who attended the conference who said that the Prime Minister will have the needed political support in the Knesset in order to pass the prospective peace deal.
Third, recent polls of the Palestinian and Israeli public indicated that the majority will support a peace deal that is based on a two state solution.
Fourth, because of the geopolitical changes in the region, the Arab countries represented by the Arab League share an interest with Israel to prevent the rise of Islamic fundamentalism. This recognition has prompted active involvement of the Arab League and affirmation of their support to the negotiations. The Arab League also promised that following a peace deal they will recognize and normalize diplomatic relations with Israel. This implies an incredible opportunity for achieving an end to the Israeli-Arab conflict.
There is a wide agreement that the current Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations present an historic opportunity that if missed, will results in escalation of violence and isolation of Israel for a long time to come. During his visit to Jerusalem this year, President Obama told young Israelis: ”Leaders will take bold steps only if their people push them to.”
The outcome of the negotiated peace deal will present difficult compromises, but we can’t miss this exciting opportunity to secure Israel as a democratic Jewish state.
The current peace negotiation should last eight more months, meaning that by the time we celebrate Rosh Hashana next year the leaders will have already deliberated on the peace deal. Please join the constituency for peace called for by the Secretary of State, and help us to make sure that this historic opportunity will not be missed. You can lend your support by adding your name at: http://2campaign.org/#petition.
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Shamir is programming chair for J Street San Diego