Daniel Lubetzky

Abdulrahman Al-Rashed, General Manager of Al Arabiya News Channel, shares a unique way of looking way of looking at the different players in Middle East conflicts. See his full piece after the jump.

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This week, Israel Policy Forum (IPF) delivered the following letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu urging him to work with President Obama to take steps to advance a two-state solution. The letter was signed by over 100 prominent American Jewish philanthropists, businesspeople and community leaders. See the full letter and list of signatories after the jump.

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At the entrance to the ICC, where people are waiting for Obama, young Israelis are posting the commitments that they are making and that they are asking Obama to make in order to achieve a two-state solution.

The Israel Democracy Institute published the graph below in their 2013 Peace Index. It points to the danger that we face as younger generations grow more skeptical and cynical and have a harder time visualizing peace than older generations. This is particularly alarming because the younger generations usually have more faith in the opportunity for change in the future.

Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Julianna Storch

Joel Braudold, Strategic Partnerships Officer for the One Voice Movement, makes the case that the new Israeli leaders should focus their efforts on solving the settlement problem before worrying about the ultra-Orthodox population. Read his full Haaretz piece after the jump.

Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Julianna Storch

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Ron Ben Yishai described in this piece a 4-phase Palestinian plan to achieve Statehood without having to give up the right of return or recognize Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people or otherwise end claims.  This may end up being the only way to get to a Palestinian state given the lack of leadership on the Israeli and Palestinian sides. That plan is arguably superior to the status quo.  But it is far inferior to a negotiated resolution where both sides can improve their position through compromise, and where both peoples’ can fulfill their aspirations and build vibrant societies. Absent a negotiated agreement, I fear that maximalism on both sides will continue to cause violence.  Without an agreement where two peoples achieve two states, the region will be balkanized and condemned to ethnic violence for decades or centuries.

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This encouraging Haaretz piece highlights Kerry’s determination to achieve a peace agreement in Obama’s second term.

Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Julianna Storch

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It’s encouraging to see Palestinians adopting text books that present both the Israeli and Palestinian narratives. Read more after the jump.

Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky,  by Julianna Storch

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OneVoice and the PeaceWorks Foundation have been working for several months now on a major new initiative to enable ordinary citizens as well as companies, groups and governments – Palestinian, Israeli, or international – to contribute towards building positive facts on the ground that will advance and cement a two state reality and create the environment necessary for political representatives to negotiate and achieve a permanent two state solution.  Part of the methodology involves finding creative solutions where international actors can be catalysts towards improved relations with both sides.  As an example, The Center for Middle East Peace had for years been working behind the scenes to support the Turkish construction of a hospital in Gaza, as a means towards rekindling relations between former allies Turkey and Israel, while doing something to advance the betterment of the Palestinian people and State.  Some were skeptical this could amount to anything.  Now some encouraging signs indicate progress on this path, as recently reported in the article below.

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Israeli Diplomat Alon Pinkas publicly berates Prime Minister Netanyahu for jeopardizing Israel’s vital alliance with the United States in his Yedioth Ahronot piece. Read Pinkas’s full article after the jump.

Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Julianna Storch

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