Michael de Laine

Israeli, Palestinian politicians discuss two-state solution

By Michael de Laine, Copenhagen, 3 March 2009

Delegations of politicians from Israel and Palestine who met today in Stockholm have discussed details for a two-state solution the long-lasting Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Olof Palme International Center said.

The meeting between the politicians - the first meeting since the three-week Gaza war that started on 27 December 2008 - was held within the framework of the Geneva Initiative.

Detailed proposals for borders, water supplies and settlements have existed for a long time, the centre said, while today’s meeting dealt with the domestic situation in Gaza and Israel and the world’s roll in speeding up the peace process.

The Geneva Initiative also supports the Arab Peace Initiative.

“These forward-looking politicians are showing their countrymen and the world at large that it is possible to reach agreement if the will is there,” said Jens Orback, the Palme Center’s secretary-general and the moderator of today’s meeting.

The Israeli delegation comprised Dr Yossi Beilin (chairman of Geneva Initiative), Shlomo Mula (Member of Knesset for Kadima), Talia Sasson (member of the board of directors, Council for Peace and Security), Yonatan Tuval (senior policy analyst, Geneva Initiative) and Gadi Baltiansky (director-general, Geneva Initiative).

In the Palestinian delegation were Dr Abdallah Abdallah (Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council/head of the PLC’s Political Committee), Ashraf Ajrami (Palestinian Minister of Prisoners and Detainees), Samih Abid (member of the Palestinian negotiating team, former Minister of Housing), Nidal Foqaha (executive director of the Palestnian Peace Coalition/GI) and Saman Khoury.