An interview with Ron Pundak
Jerusalem - Ron Pundak, Director General of the Peres Center for Peace, and one of the architects of the Oslo Agreement, stated, "We are now at the threshold of a new era that carries within it all hope for achieving peace and stability, for us and for the Middle East region as a whole."
In a special interview with the Jerusalem-based Al Quds newspaper, Mr. Pundak added that the changes that the Palestinian Authority underwent, and the elections that resulted in a victory for Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), clearly indicate that the Palestinian street is heading for change and rebuilding, and that it understands the Israeli side's point of view. The Palestinian public's wish to restore Palestinian-Israeli relations through the coordination of activities, which is bound to have a positive result within both societies, will eventually contribute to finding a solution to this complicated problem. "We now live in an environment that is substantially different from the past, to the extent that even extremist forces among the parties of the conflict have started to comprehend that persisting on the path of violence will not achieve anything, but will rather engage the two peoples of these countries in destruction, war, and strife. Change is the master of the situation now, and towards the better, because the situation on the ground is changing. Checkpoints are currently being moved from their present locations, and the Palestinian Authority is given more power and control to undertake its role in maintaining peace and putting an end to violence. All these changes represent reasons for us to be optimistic that the change will be for the better."
Pundak expressed hope that a ceasefire will be implemented between the two
parties, with the cessation of all forms of violence and counter-violence.
He called upon the present Israeli government to respond to recent changes
peacefully, and to initiate a truce, refraining from additional incursions,
targeted assassinations, and tracking down of activists, claiming it is in
their interest to participate with the Palestinian side in its mitigation
efforts.
He further demanded that the present system followed at checkpoints in
Palestinian towns and villages be changed, and that Palestinian prisoners
be released in accordance with a preset schedule.
Pundak added, "I am hopeful that I will soon witness cooperation and
participation between the Palestinian and Israeli sides to bring life back
to its normal pace and achieve economic and security development between
them." Pundak believes this could be the start of a march toward peace,
when historic reconciliation between the Palestinian and Jewish nations
will be achieved.
He added, "Twelve years have elapsed since the Oslo Peace Agreement was
signed in 1993, which is considered a march towards peace through a
political dialogue and positive diplomacy. I would like to see the change
on the ground now, and the continuation of negotiations that started in
Oslo with the objective of achieving peace, establishing an independent
Palestinian state, going back to the 1967 borders with some secondary
changes, and finding a reasonable solution to the refugee problem."
Responding to a question, Mr. Pundak said that inside the Israeli military
establishment, as well as inside the current Israeli government, there
exist strong forces that would like to see this change that we alluded to,
in spite of some reservations in the position of the Israeli intelligence
and their perception of events. He was optimistic, however, that changes on
the Palestinian side are sincere and genuine, saying that Palestinians are
serious about seeking a ceasefire and achieving mitigation and stability in
order to launch the peace march.
Pundak emphasized the need to hold a joint-action meeting between the
Israeli Prime Minister, Sharon, and Abu Mazen, President of the Palestinian
National Authority, and for dialogue between them to continue regularly.
Responding to a question on whether Shimon Peres had any influence on
Sharon, Pundak said that Peres has a vision, and he has every respect for
Prime Minister Sharon; they share a strong and sincere aspiration to
execute the disengagement from Gaza plan, and a similar plan in the West
Bank, as an initial step towards implementing the Road Map, and achieving
peace.
Regarding the position of Israeli society concerning current developments,
Pundak stated that Israelis prefer peace, but that the past four years,
represented by the Al Aqsa Intifada, have created a great deal of mistrust,
instability, cleavage, and anarchy. But the situation is different now,
especially after the election of Abu Mazen, whereby the majority of
Israelis want and support peace, and would like to see Palestinian society
rid itself of violence. It is up to the Palestinian people to convince the
Israeli public that it is serious and clear about change and about
achieving peace and the establishment of the Palestinian state in a
peaceful manner.
Pundak emphasized that Israeli opposition is relatively strong inside the
Knesset, but rather weak on the street, and what is needed are efforts
toward a ceasefire and the achievement of mitigation to enhance opposition
on the street and convince the public that there is good will. He expressed
his conviction that improving the Palestinian national economy can be
achieved through the activation of joint projects in fields like tourism
and the establishment of entertainment parks, as well as cooperation in
agriculture and extending assistance to Palestinian farmers. We have to
exploit the opportunity of the Gaza withdrawal in order to provide the
World Bank and donor countries an opportunity to invest there and to
commence the move towards rebuilding and development inside the Strip, as
well as investment in the West Bank through the establishment of vital
projects aimed at the revival and well-being of the Palestinian population
and the enhancement and stabilization of the Palestinian economy.
He further added that tourism will result in large economic benefits to
Israelis and Palestinians alike, and to the region as a whole. We should
therefore rebuild facilities and sites that attract tourism.
Pundak clearly stated that we should move forward toward peace and not
waste the opportunity; we have no other alternatives. Both sides have
suffered immensely during the past years, and both have committed many
mistakes and created a lot of obstacles. They should now avoid repeating
those mistakes and look forward to the future, grabbing available
opportunities and achieving stability and the coexistence aspired to for
our children, away from violence and strife.
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* Ron Pundak is Director of the Peres Center for Peace. The Center's
mission is to build an infrastructure of peace by and for the people of the
Middle East that promotes socio economic development, while advancing
cooperation and mutual understanding. For more information, please consult
www.peres-center.org
Source: Al Quds, February 1, 2005
Visit Al Quds website at: http://www.alquds.com//
Distributed by the Common Ground News Service.
Copyright permission has been obtained for publication.
