|
The Nusseibeh/Ayalon Initiative (also known as
The Peoples' Voice) is a grassroots petition drive headed by Sari
Nusseibeh (President of Al Quds University in Jerusalem) and Ami
Ayalon (former chief of the Navy and General Security Chief--Shin
Bet). The Peoples' Voice calls for an end to the conflict and a
two-state solution. So far the initiative has collected thousands of
signatures among Israelis and Palestinians.
Cover Letter
The
Palestinian people and the Jewish people each recognize the other's
historic rights with respect to the same land.
The Jewish people has for generations wanted to
establish the Jewish State in all the Land of Israel, while the
Palestinian people have similarly wanted to establish a state in all
of Palestine.
The two sides hereby agree to accept a historic
compromise based on the principle of two sovereign and viable states
existing side by side. The following Statement of Intentions is an
expression of the will of the majority of the people. Both sides
believe that through this initiative they can influence their
leaders and thereby open a new chapter in the region's history. This
new chapter will be realized by calling on the international
community to guarantee security in the region and to help in
rehabilitating and developing the region's economy.
The People's Voice
-- Statement of Intentions
-
Two states for two peoples:
Both sides will declare that Palestine is the only state of the
Palestinian people and Israel is the only state of the Jewish
people.
-
Borders:
Permanent borders between the two states will be agreed upon on
the basis of the June 4, 1967 lines, UN resolutions, and the Arab
peace initiative (known as the Saudi initiative).
·
Border modifications will be based on an equitable and agreed-upon
territorial exchange (1:1) in accordance with the vital needs of
both sides, including security, territorial contiguity, and
demographic considerations.
·
The
Palestinian State will have a connection between its two geographic
areas, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
·
After establishment of the agreed borders, no settlers will remain
in the
Palestinian State.
-
Jerusalem:
Jerusalem will be an open city, the capital of two states. Freedom
of religion and full access to holy sites will be guaranteed to
all.
·
Arab neighborhoods in
Jerusalem will come under Palestinian sovereignty, Jewish
neighborhoods under Israeli sovereignty.
·
Neither side will exercise sovereignty over the holy places. The
State of Palestine will be designated Guardian of al-Haram al-Sharif
for the benefit of Muslims.
Israel will
be the Guardian of the Western Wall for the benefit of the Jewish
people. The status quo on Christian holy site will be maintained. No
excavation will take place in or underneath the holy sites without
mutual consent.
-
Right of return:
Recognizing the suffering and
the plight of the Palestinian refugees, the international
community,
Israel, and the Palestinian State will initiate and contribute to
an international fund to compensate them.
·
Palestinian refugees will return only to the State of Palestine;
Jews will return only to the State of Israel.
·
The international community will offer to compensate toward
bettering the lot of those refugees willing to remain in their
present country of residence, or who wish to immigrate to
third-party countries.
-
The Palestinian State will be demilitarized and the international
community will guarantee its security and independence.
-
End of conflict:
Upon the full implementation of these principles, all claims on
both sides and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will end.
The Peoples' Voice Website:
http://www.mifkad.org.il/eng/
|
