Jerusalem, June 1, 2008 – In contrast to those who continue to speak about the possibility of reaching at least a framework Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement by the end of this, year, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, speaking today at the 71st meeting of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Board of Governors, cautioned that the only agreement that will have any significance is one that is rooted in concrete rather than conceptual terms. Reaching such an agreement is “a process that takes time,” she stressed.

A comprehensive, detailed and operational agreement is required “because we cannot afford another failure,” said Livni in obvious reference to past agreements that were not implemented. “We need to do it the right way,” she said, in order to avoid any further frustrations and disappointments.

Speaking at a conference entitled “The Quest for Peace in the Middle East,” held to mark the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace at the Hebrew University, Livni said that negotiations can only proceed with the “pragmatic elements” within the Palestinian Authority and not with Hamas, since the latter has not accepted the concept of two states for two peoples living in peace and security. “These extremists” and those who support them “are clearly the enemies of peace,” she said. “They are the ones who are trying to destabilize the region.”

The negotiations with the Palestinian Authority, she emphasized, are proceeding on the basis of simultaneous discussions involving borders, security, refugees and other issues. Regarding the refugees, she emphasized that the only possible final agreement that could be achieved would be one based on an understanding that Israel is recognized as the homeland of the Jewish people, and that the Palestinian state would satisfy the national aspirations of the Palestinian people. This means, she said, that any “right of return” for Palestinian refugees would only be to the future Palestinian state. 

Any prospective agreement would have to include guarantees for Israel’s security and also relate to the Palestinian desire for sovereignty through territorial concessions by Israel, she said.  

Others who spoke at the conference were George Mitchell, the U.S. senator who successfully negotiated the peace agreement in Northern Ireland, and Simone Veil, the former French health minister and former president of the European Parliament, both of whom are past recipients of the Truman Institute Peace Award. They both expressed the need for persevering to achieve an Israeli-Palestinian peace accord. Also on the program was former US Ambassador to Israel and long-time Truman Institute Chairman William Brown, and member of Knesset Tzachi Hanegbi.  The Palestinian Authority was also scheduled to send a representative to speak at the conference, but did not in the end do so.

For further information:

Jerry Barach, Dept. of Media Relations, the Hebrew University,

Tel: 02-588-2904. 

Orit Sulitzeanu, Hebrew University spokesperson, Tel: 054-8820016.