Progressing Toward Peace

The Madison Observer
April 20, 2005
By Shira Goldman

On Tuesday, April 19 at 6:00 PM, Daniel Levy, an Israeli, and Rafi Dajani, a Palestinian, will be in Madison together presenting the Geneva Accord. Created in December 2003, the Geneva Accord is a joint Israeli-Palestinian effort proposing a detailed outline for a peace agreement to end the conflict in the Middle East. Briefly, the model suggests the formation of two independent states – Israel and Palestine, side by side, recognizing each others’ sovereignty and establishing full diplomatic relations. The border would be mostly based on the pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem serving as the capital for both states, and with each side’s holy sites fully under their own control. In addition, the Geneva Accord calls for the full compensation of Palestinian refugees, and a commitment to ending all forms of terror.

While it may not be a final solution, ending all problems and relieving the tension in the region, its very existence as a forum for Israeli-Palestinian dialogue is a groundbreaking step toward peace. With the renewed eruption of violence over the past few years, it seems that the voices most often heard in the international community are those of blame and narrow-mindedness. Kavanah, a progressive Jewish voice, believes in peace and the peace process in the context of a two-state solution, which includes an Israel and a Palestine. We are primarily responsible for bringing the Geneva speakers to campus, as part of a greater effort to promote conversation and understanding. Although new to the semester, the Jewish-Palestinian Dialogue group, another project Kavanah is involved with, has created a solid foundation that will hopefully continue to grow stronger. There is no one solution, one proposal, or one student organization that can easily mend the tears in Israeli and Palestinian society. However it is important to take the steps we can, to remain hopeful and keep in mind the long term goal of peace.