A Saudi, a Palestinian and an Israeli on Reaching Peace
By Ksenia Svetlova, Aziz Alghashian, Nivine Sandouqa
Ha'aretz
November 24, 2025
"…We three peacemakers – an Israeli, a Palestinian and a Saudi, all members of ROPES network of young Middle Eastern leaders, argue that the two processes – the fight for peace and a two-state solution, and regional integration and cooperation, are closely tied together…
Aziz Alghashian - Saudi Arabia:
"…avoiding the Palestinians in 2025 is impossible. No one – from policymakers to civil society – can or should avoid either Palestinians or Israelis. The conflict is the core issue that has plagued not just Palestinians and Israelis, but the region, too…
"The best way to revitalize normalization with Israel is through a just and lasting Palestinian-Israeli peace and a two state solution. The last two years have shown more clearly than ever how crucial this is, not just for peace for both peoples, for regional security…"
Neveen Sandouqa – Palestine:
"…Today, Arab countries hold a unique kind of leverage. Their offer to Israel – full normalization in exchange for a Palestinian state – is not symbolic. It's strategic. It places them at the heart of a multilateral peace process…
"True peace must be built on justice, mutual recognition, and trust, and not just between governments, but between people. Without that, regional integration will always be provisional – and fragile…"
Ksenia Svetlova – Israel:
"…Israel does indeed need good relations with all of its Arab neighbors – and it should use these relations in order to promote a peaceful solution with the Palestinians. One is not possible today without another…
"The old assumptions have failed. Israel desperately needs a new vision, for itself and for relations that will include all of its neighbors. We know that it is possible, since our organization continue to bring together Israelis, Palestinians and Arabs from across the Middle East all this time.”
Former MK Ksenia Svetlova is the CEO of ROPES, the Regional Organization for Peace, Economics and Security.
Aziz Alghashian is a researcher on Saudi foreign policy and Saudi-Israel relations based in Riyadh. He is a non-resident fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington and a ROPES alum.
Neveen Sandouqa is the Regional Director of the Alliance for Middle East Peace (ALLMEP), and a ROPES alumna.
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