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Position Statements
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2012
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- Time to Negotiate the Northern and Southern Sectors of the Israeli-West Bank Border
- President Peres and Dr. Ashrawi: Thank You for Staying on Track
- Playing the Victim Card Will Not Bring Peace
- Negotiations By the Parties
- The World Should Help the Palestinian Hunger Striker
- ...and only afterwards move to discuss the topic of Jerusalem
- A Question of Accountability
- Israel Twisting in the Wind
- Netanyahu: Too Big for His Britches
- Netanyahu's "Israeli Comfort"
- How Shaul Mofaz Can Jump-Start the Peace Process
- Netanyahu on the Brink
- Time for Taking Stock
- Israel in Wonderland
- Whatever Happened to the Quartet?
- The Palestinians Want to Negotiate
- A Time for Hope and a Call for Restraint
- Israel Can Win in Gaza, But Not Now
- Congratulations to the New State of Palestine!
- Security and Borders: Both Required for Peace
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2013
>
- It Is Up to Israel to Restart Peace Negotiations
- Israel and Palestine: Changing the Terms of Agreement
- The Knesset Bill to Increase the Number of Women that Elect the Chief Rabbis Is Important for Jewish Women
- Proposal on Governance of the Holy Basin
- Time for Netanyahu to Reach Across the Aisle
- Tzipi Livni's Challenge
- Women Should Be Free to Pray at the Wailing Wall
- Proposed Highway through the Jordan Valley Will Backfire on Israel
- 2014 >
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2015
>
- We Should Applaud Herzog and Livni for Reclaiming Zionism
- The Next Israeli Government
- West Bank Citizenry and Receipt of Individuals of Palestinian Origin
- What Next for Israel?
- Palestinian statehood
- Mischief in the Trade Legislation would Hinder Progress
- What Next for America?
- Could American Firms Choose to Gradually Disinvest from Israel?
- Boycotting Israel is not anti-Semitism
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Security
Security is enhanced through good borders. As the adage goes, “good fences make good neighbors.” When Israel and Palestine have fixed a border that both sides can accept, that in itself will contribute greatly towards positive security environment for Israel. A border with the West Bank will produce a safer and more secure Israel, safer and more secure than what can be gained through occupation, annexation, or expanding settlements in the West Bank.
Once the representatives of Israel and Palestine, with the support of the Quartet and other nations, commit themselves to establishing peace, then on the basis of having established a border, truly considering the options for the right of return, and making a fundamental commitment to the economic well-being of all in the region, the parties will be able to negotiate meaningful security arrangements.
We do not ask the State of Israel to negotiate with a terrorist organization, but we do ask Israel and its Prime Minister to consider negotiating with a broadened sense of what is reasonable. We believe in the possibility that both Hamas and Fatah can offer reasonable assurances that there is goodwill in both territories. We do not believe that any political party must forever operate with the goal of defeating another party according to its pre-printed agenda. We know full well that agendas can change, because political parties are composed of human beings who understandably have interests. Hence, we urge that negotiations commence on the basis of common humanity.
Furthermore, we do not object to provisos being inserted. We believe it is in the best interests of the State of Israel to negotiate with Hamas, but at the same time to clearly establish in writing what Israel will and will not tolerate. This would offer an opening for Hamas to be included, but at the same time for primary negotiations to occur with Fatah. This would also offer a way for Israel to withdraw from negotiations if political developments in the new state of Palestine are seen by the world community as a genuine threat to Israel and her citizens.
At the same time, the world would be foolish to ignore the concerns of Palestine as an infant state over its security issues. However, we strongly object to any proposal that would maintain or establish an initial peace by employing UN peacekeeping forces anywhere within Jerusalem or Palestine.