February 2005

Views expressed are those of the authors, not necessarily of the AFSC.

Israelis & Palestinians Petition for Peace

The People's Voice is a civil initiative whose founders, Sari Nusseibeh and Ami Ayalon, recognize that a way exists to bridge the intolerable impasse between Israelis and Palestinians. It is dedicated to persuading leaders on both sides to end the conflict by means of mass signatures on a joint statement of principles. As of the end of January, 2005, 253,667 Israelis and 161,000 Palestinians have signed the petition (www.mifkad.org.il/en). The following statement from the two-cofounders, edited below, first appeared in the Jerusalem Post on November 19, 2004, and is distributed by the Common Ground News Service, www.commongroundnews.org.

The fate of Israelis and Palestinians is intertwined. Our conflict is not a zero-sum game. Neither side can win at the expense of the other. We either sink or survive together.

The choice is in our hands, but how can the people take charge of their own destiny? Four elements are basic: First, one people alone cannot take charge because one people's fate is linked to the other. Unilateral decisions, while sometimes tolerated as a short-term tactical move, cannot ultimately serve as a substitute for joint decisions and coordinated actions.

Second, such joint action is not possible without rebuilding trust between the two sides, as difficult as this may seem following the last four years of bitter conflict. Third, despondency and fatalism must be replaced by hope -- even faith -- in the future, in our joint powers, and in a vision of life after the conflict. Finally, clarity about each side's deeper concerns must be reached. Addressing those concerns must be seen as a goal by each side.

Addressing all four of these elements are essential if we are to take control of our interdependent destiny. We must remember that our effort at peace-making is not done in a vacuum, and the enemies of peace on both sides will be hard at work, trying their best to transform any positive step into a failure. Without a clear vision, we will not be able to overcome these obstacles and be prepared to contemplate the hard sacrifices that are necessary for peace.

The People's Voice initiative follows these principles by clearly stating trade-offs that previous agreements left amorphous. For Israelis, it is not easy to accept the idea of withdrawing from most of the territories, evacuating the settlements in the withdrawn areas, and "paying" with its own land on a 1:1 basis in order to keep control of some settlement blocs. It is also very difficult for Israelis to relinquish sovereignty over parts of Jerusalem, even if these are Arab neighborhoods.

In Palestinian eyes, stating the principle that "Palestinian refugees will return only to the State of Palestine" nearly ruptures their most important national narrative. For a people raised for generations on the dream of returning to Jaffa, Haifa, Acre, and dozens of ancestral villages, giving up that vision is much deeper than the stroke of a pen. And for most Israelis and Palestinians, not having full sovereignty over the Temple Mount - Haram al-Sharif (including the Western Wall), and being at ease with the role of guardian, is an extremely tough proposition.

Yet the majority of Israelis and Palestinians realize that the alternatives to such tough compromises are much worse. Israelis understand that if they want Israel to be a democratic home for the Jewish people, then a Palestinian state is in their interests. And most Palestinians understand that if they want a viable Palestinian state, a secure Israel is in their interests. Thus, 400,000 citizens have signed their name to the People's Voice Statement of Principles, and the numbers continue to grow.

Recent changes present us with a unique opportunity for taking the next step. On the Palestinian side, Arafat's passing will impose a need for political clarity: While he lived, his charisma and personal leadership qualities in the eyes of the Palestinian people substituted for almost everything else.

But all Palestinians agree that no Palestinian leader can command the kind of following he enjoyed. Therefore, any potential Palestinian leader will have to earn his sustained following through something other than personality, namely, a clear political program, as well as achievement. He has to tell the people where he intends to lead them, and he has to prove that he can do it successfully. The need for clarity on the Palestinian side today is compelling.

In Israel, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan is already contentious but will naturally lead to an even deeper debate concerning Israel's direction. Therefore, it is an opportune time for Israelis to address the critical question: What kind of Israel do we want?

Finally, the re-election of President George W. Bush, the American-British partnership in Iraq, and the associated search for diplomatic success in the Middle East indicate the potential for international diplomatic activity on an unprecedented scale.

It should be noted that our initiative is not simply a piece of paper or a set of principles. It is an instrument of political change. It is based on partnership; on people, not on individual leaders; and on trust-building -- the more one side shows its preparedness to commit, the more people on the other side are encouraged to step forward. Finally, it is an instrument of hope and clarity: It provides both sides with a vision of a future in which each side can see its respective concerns met, thereby encouraging the two people to act together to bring about change.

In Israel, the debate over Gaza will be viewed within the context of a final political settlement. In Palestine, efforts to mobilize even broader political support for a moderate agenda will be enhanced by the presence of a genuine Israeli partner. And on the international front, a growing positive public attitude could make negotiations, even over interim steps, more likely to succeed. In other words, a blueprint for a permanent agreement, always clearly a strategic objective, has become a tactical necessity.

History has provided a real and unique opportunity to help forge a future, fulfilling both the Palestinian dream for a viable democratic state and the Zionist dream of a democratic Jewish homeland. Those who reject such a vision have had their say, and we see where that has brought us. A majority of Israelis and Palestinians want to live side by side, building their own states and dreams in this beautiful, ancient, and troubled land. It is time that the people's voice be heard.

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