Racing the Clock:
The Quest to End the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Quotes from a Panel Discussion

Osama El Baz
“I believe that both [peoples] are sick and tired of the continuation of the conflict, both of them are frustrated, both of them have suffered tremendously, and the majority of them… are willing to accept a peaceful settlement… that will end the conflict altogether.”

Isaac Herzog
“Israeli public opinion would vouch for a very far reaching agreement and an end of conflict… provided they know that they have personal security and national security granted and supported for good.”

Gideon Sa’ar
“What’s happening in the Likud is not less than a political earthquake. Taboos are breaking down when in the Likud leadership a Palestinian state and dismantling settlements – as a part of the process, not part of final status settlement – are right now acceptable.”

Martin Indyk
“[ Israel’s plan for unilateral withdrawal] will set two very important precedents. One, the evacuation of settlements… [the second] the precedent of a complete withdrawal, a full withdrawal, and an end of the occupation…’

“[The withdrawal] is a wakeup call [for Palestinians]… They both an opportunity to assert control in Gaza and use that as … a springboard and a mechanism that will produce a Palestinian partner that can take advantage of the precedent that will be set by Israel’s full withdrawal and the end of the occupation of Gaza.”

Ed Djerejian
“What is needed with the Sharon initiative is a diplomatic strategy where the international community can provide the playing field in which the parties can engage in the most productive and positive way.”

S. Daniel Abraham
“The cost of this conflict is awful for the people of Israel and the people of Palestine, and the entire region is being held down from developing themselves to their potential because of this conflict. Time is not on anyone’s side. The time to make peace is now.”