Ambassador Michael Oren’s statements on peace with the Palestinians — “Inaction (by Israel) isn’t an option” and “Israel needs to take its fate into its own hands and come out with a political initiative that will serve its interests” — are absolutely correct (“Undiplomatic Talk From Michael Oren,” Editor’s column, Dec. 12).
We are the co-founders of Blue White Future, a nonpartisan Israeli organization that advocates for a two-state solution. (http://bluewhitefuture.org/). It has developed a comprehensive plan for the Israeli government to take a series of constructive independent steps, in the absence of a political process, that advance Israel’s interests and would lead to an eventual agreement with the Palestinians. These include: announcing it has no sovereignty claims over areas beyond the security fence; ceasing new construction in these areas; enacting a voluntary evacuation and compensation law for Israeli settlers who live beyond the fence; maintaining the Israel Defense Forces in the all areas until a permanent agreement is reached; recognizing a Palestinian state in Judea, Samaria and Gaza.
The next Israeli government must implement such an initiative. Creating a reality of two states, even short of an agreement that seems too hard to reach these days, is a key to the future of Israel as the democratic nation-state of the Jewish people.
Ami Ayalon/ Gilead Sher/ Ornie Petruschka Tel Aviv, Israel
Ayalon is a former director of Israel’s security agency Shin Bet; Sher is former Israel chief negotiator and chief of staff to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak; Petruschka is an Israeli high-tech entrepreneur.
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