Brussels, 04/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - Four well-known Israeli figures have jointly published a text in the New York Times calling on the United States and the EU not to spurn the Palestinian proposal to call for international recognition of Palestine at the next UN General Assembly. The text was signed by Colette Avital, former ambassador and a member of the Knesset responsible for the Labour Party's foreign policy; General Shlomo Gazit, the former military coordinator in the West Bank and head of the intelligence services; and two academics: Yossi Alpher, Director of the Jaffee Center at Tel Aviv University, and Mark Heller, of the Institute for National Security Studies of the University of Tel Aviv.
“Why not offer the Palestinians what they want, but add elements that could render the resolution acceptable to a majority of Israelis?” they write in the key US daily. “Instead of wasting time and energy trying to revive a moribund Israeli-Palestinian peace process, the United States and the European Union should take another look at the Palestinian initiative” as this “can actually be leveraged into a win-win situation for Israelis, Palestinians and the world”. Recognising the 1967 boundaries and the Palestinian Authority on part of Jerusalem means definitively recognising Israel and sealing the status of West Jerusalem, which would thus find itself, de facto, recognised as an integral part of Israel. The western part of the town was occupied in 1967 and officially annexed which is something, it was said, that even the best friends of the country have so far refused to accept. This assertion alludes to the refusal by most countries, including the 27 EU member states, to set up their embassies in the historical city. (F.B./transl.jl)