Promote Peace in the Midst of War
“A lot of American Jewish leaders would love Biden to put forward such a plan, but so far only one, Ronald Lauder, the president of the World Jewish Congress, has had the courage to call for it — in a Saudi newspaper, no less, in an essay titled, “A Time for Peace and a Two-State Solution.” As he explained, “Only a two-state solution would guarantee Israelis and Palestinians a life in dignity, safety, and with a better perspective on the economic situation, which would lead to a sustainable future.”
- Tom Friedman, The New York Times
By Ronald S Lauder
The Washington Post
November 7, 2023
"As Israel wages war against Hamas, it must simultaneously propose a path toward peace.
"Clearly, it is difficult to talk about peace during wartime. Temperatures are running high, and an understandable sense of pain and outrage has overtaken even the soundest of minds. So much so that there are those who cannot see past seeking revenge. But a peace initiative is the only way Israel’s ultimate security can succeed.
"Israel should vow that, once the war ends, it will aspire to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a two-state solution. To start this process immediately, it should reach out to Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of the Palestinian Authority, and offer to resume negotiations on an interim, or even final, agreement. Israel should invite Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Egyptian President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II to sponsor this future diplomatic process — and it should appeal to the leading Persian Gulf states to oversee the rebuilding of Gaza after the war. It should ask the international community to begin to put together a new Marshall Plan that will create a new, more peaceful and economically prosperous Middle Eastern reality over the next few years…
"A peace initiative is critical to assembling such powerful diplomatic partnerships — which will underpin the war against Hamas. Presenting a positive diplomatic horizon will clarify what Israel is fighting for, and why the United States and its allies support it…
"A wartime peace initiative will open eyes. It will help Israel win the contest for hearts and minds and allow every democracy in the world to place itself on the right side of history. It will thus ensure a decisive victory against the antidemocratic fundamentalism of Hamas. And, crucially, it will pave the way to a more secure future for the Middle East. History will not forgive us if, at this critical juncture, we do not offer the hopeful horizon of peace despite the tragedy of war."
Ronald S. Lauder is president of the World Jewish Congress.
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Empowering the next generation of American, Israeli, and Palestinian change-makers to embrace better, together.
אנחנו מכנסים הוגים מובילים, פעילים חברתיים, ומחוללי שינוי לעתיד, אמריקאים, ישראלים ופלסטינאים, המחויבים לשיפור החברות שלהם.
نحن أمريكيون وإسرائيليون وفلسطينيون نبني ونكوّن روابط من أجل التعلم والتفكير والمشاركة معًا حتى نشجع الحلول التقدمية بشأن القضايا التي تهمنا جميعًا.