Sir, – It is a tragedy that Israelis and Palestinians cannot be persuaded to renew direct negotiations. For, both sides are already fully aware that any future resolution to this conflict will necessarily entail the creation of a viable Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel, involving land swaps, a corridor between Gaza and the West bank, and a compromise over Jerusalem. Yet both sides keep introducing various “road blocks” on the path to peace.
Given our own history and experience of recent successful conflict resolution, could I suggest that our Government act as an honest broker and extend an invitation to both sides to come to Ireland (say, to Farmleigh House) for the purpose of direct negotiations, with no pre-conditions whatsoever?
The precedent of Oslo, a location far away from the heated atmosphere of the Middle East, was a recognised start in producing the Oslo agreement between these two parties. Would it be too much to hope that Farmleigh could produce the Dublin one? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – The Israeli ambassador, Boaz Modai, has written rather disparagingly of Jeff Halper (April 26th).
I assume that he is referring to the Jeff Halper who has been speaking at standing-room only meetings here in London over the past few days outlining the plight of Palestinian families being evicted from their homes. This is also the same Jeff Halper who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by the American Friends Service Committee for his work “to liberate both the Palestinian and the Israeli people from the yoke of structural violence” and “to build equality between their people by recognising and celebrating their common humanity”.
Mr Halper is director of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) and is an advocate of non-violent resistance. He has worked tirelessly over the years to prevent the eviction of countless Palestinian families from their homes. What he opposes in Palestine is the type of state-sponsored evictions and terrorism we have known all too well in Ireland. – Yours, etc,