On The Historical Significance of Annapolis

Nov 26, 2007 Published under Middle East, Mideast Negotiations, OneVoice Movement

· This is the first time in over 15 years where the vast majority of Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, are participating in a regional effort to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; not since the Madrid peace process launched by President Bush Sr. have all these countries gathered together to address the issue; over 40 countries are being represented in Annapolis.

· This is the first time in 7 years that the Israeli and Palestinian Heads of State (or more specifically the Israeli Administration and the PLO Executive Committee) are hopefully re-launching formal steady and systematic negotiations

· The Israeli and Palestinian Heads of State are not alone this time:

o Their people elected each of them with a broad mandate on a clear campaign platform for conflict resolution

o Leaders of the region and the world are now by their side urging they take advantage of the Arab Peace Initiative and the Roadmap and make progress at once

o Over 620,000 citizens have joined the OneVoice Mandate supporting the process, the largest number in the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and representative of the overwhelming majorities (59% to 84% according to different polls over the last two years) who support negotiations to establish a two state solution

· Rare Window of Opportunity: the window is closing – while majorities on both sides still overwhelmingly support negotiations towards a two state solution, the numbers opposing are going up steadily, and will eventually surpass moderate voices if no tangible progress is made; we have two leaders and two peoples and the Arab region and the US government now recommitting themselves; the opportunity must be seized. Failure is not an option.

Join OneVoice in Annapolis, Represent 620,000 Signatories Urging Ongoing Negotiations

From the OneVoice Teams: It’s working. The leaders are listening to their peoples’ demand for immediate negotiations towards a two-state-solution: for the first time in over 15 years, the Israeli and Palestinian Heads of State will be joined by the US and 20 Arab nations in a regional summit at Annapolis. Those opposing a two [...]
On The Annapolis Invitation Letter

Here is an interesting article from Yonathan Touval regarding Annapolis, juxtaposed to all the sobering reports about the parties’ inability to agree on the guidelines for the forthcoming meeting… Last update – 02:31 16/11/2007 Crafting the invitation to Annapolis By Yonatan Touval Ha’aretz Newspaper As the date for the Annapolis summit nears and doubts increase [...]
Speech from Prime Minister Olmert Before Annapolis

This speech is worth reading. It was the precursor to the Annapolis language that validated OneVoice’s mission. And it provides a very good framework for where we are coming and where we need to go in order to ensure peace and security for Israel and Palestine. Saban Forum 2007 Keynote Address by Prime Minister of [...]
Statement from President Bush re Annapolis

This was a statement sent by the President’s "Office of Public Liaison" THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ___________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release November 25, 2007 STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT I am pleased to welcome Prime Minister Olmert, President Abbas, and representatives of more than forty countries to the United States for the November [...]
Bark vs. Bark: Unilateralism, One State Solution and Time

Palestinian negotiators invoke the fact that the window of opportunity for a two-state solution is closing and will soon be replaced by the call for a “One State Solution” in order to incite fear among Israelis and push them to the negotiating table. But this negative tactic is unwise, both because a “One State Solution” [...]

comments

Post-Annapolis Round Up | Daniel Lubetzky said:
[...] skepticism abounds, Annapolis’s historical significance and potential should not be [...]
History Overlooked | Daniel Lubetzky said:
[...] Something big has already happened, and something bigger and historic could come during 2008, and yet a region buried in sorrow and skepticism is not paying attention. [...]

Daniel Lubetzky