Dear friends,
We, the undersigned, are a group of committed involved Israelis from the public sector,
academia, business, civil society and the arts. What links us together is our shared
conviction that Israeli-Palestinian peace is not only an existential necessity for both
peoples, but is a realistically achievable goal at this time. We speak in the name of an
extensive group of Israeli organizations through which we seek to translate our
commitment to the peace process into concrete programs.
Our partnership with the American Jewish community, and the support – institutional,
political, cultural and financial – which that community has always provided us, have
always been a central and constant element in the genesis and development of the
State of Israel. We write you at this time because we believe that your support of the
peace process is crucially important to the achievement of that peace, which is so vital to
the future of Israel.
The peace process now stands at a critical crossroads. On the one hand, there is a
growing realization, in Israel and in Palestine, that the unending, Sisyphean cycle of
violence and counter violence can bring no solution to the conflict in our region. Further,
it is widely recognized that this conflict impacts a wide variety of regional and global
issues, and that its continuation feeds the growth of extremism and is used to justify
terrorism and ongoing, brutal attacks on stability and security around the world.
Yet direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations have all but ceased, making any progress
mainly, if not solely, dependent on the determination of President Barack Obama and his
administration to reenergize the peace process and to lead it to the well-known and
widely-agreed solutions emanating from the principle of ‘two states for two peoples”.
President Obama gave a ringing endorsement of this approach in his speech in Cairo
on June 4th. But he and his administration will need tremendous political will to overcome
the daunting obstacles to concrete progress.
Thus, the most effective way you can support the peace process is by actively and
openly backing President Obama’s peace initiative; by making it clear to him that his
commitment to Middle East peace reflects your views and hopes as well.
We believe that this can be a contribution of truly major dimensions to the achievement
of peace and thus to securing the future of the people of Israel, in this and coming
generations.
We look to you in hope and in confidence.
Shana Tova,
Signed individuals:
Mr. A. Shalev Baruch – Director, Service for Peace Israel
Prof. Alon Ilai – Tel Aviv University
Mr. Amitai Boaz
Prof. Arnon Arie -Ben Gurion University
Rabbi Asherman Arik – Rabbis for Human Rights
Prof. Ayal Avishay – Painter, University of Haifa
Mr. Baltiansky Gadi – Director General of the Geneva Initiative
Dr. Barak Oren – The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Mr. Bargil Gavri
Mr. Barnea Aaron – Breaved Families Forum
Prof. Bar-Tal Daniel – Tel Aviv University
Dr. Bar-Tal Svetlana
Dr. Baskin Gershon – Co-Director, IPCRI
Ms. Becher Susie
Mr. Be’er Yizhar – Director, Keshev
Dr. Beilin Yossi – Former Justice Minister
Prof. Benamos Avner – Tel Aviv University
Dr. Ben-David Boaz
Mr. Bitan Dan – Co-Director, IPSO
Prof. Chazan Naomi- Former MK
Mr. Cohen Ran – Former MK
Ms. Dayan Yael – Chairperson of Tel-Aviv City Council
Ms. Dolev Sharon – Director, Regional Peace Movement
Dr. Doron Guy – Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya
Mr. Dreifuss Walter
Ms. Edelstein Mira – FoEME – Friends of the Earth Middle East
Mr. Eldar Uri – Social Environment Forum
Dr. Eldar-Avidan Dorit
Prof. Elizu Yoel – The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Prof Erhard Rachel – Tel Aviv University
Mr. Erhard Gideon
Mr. Eterman Alexander – Strategic consultant
Ms. Gal-Yahav Sivan – Palestinian-Israeli Peace NGO Forum
Prof. Gans Chaim – Tel Aviv University
Prof. Golan Galia Interdisciplinary Center Hertzelia
Prof Greenbaum Charles – The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Mr. Gvirtz Amos
Mr. Inov Yair
Dr. Ish-Shalom Piki – The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Prof. Jacobson Dan – Tel Aviv University
Prof. Kacowicz Arie – The Hebrew Univerity of Jerusalem
Prof. Kalekin Devorah – University of Haifa
Dr. Kaufman Edward (Edy)
Mr. Kesseh Zvi I. – Economist
Dr. Kimche Dave – Former Director-General of Foreign Ministry
Dr. Klein Menachem – Bar Ilan University
Prof. Kremnitzer Mordechai – The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Mr. Lehrer David Director, – Arava Institute for Environmental Studies
Dr. Levav Itzhak
Dr. Liel Alon – Israel-Syria Peace Society
Adv. Livni Eti – Former MK
Prof.(Emeritus) Loevy Ram Israel Prize laureate, Tel Aviv University
Dr. Luria Ido
Mr. Magal Tamir – University of Haifa
Ms. Malaker Molly – Director, Bat Shalom
Dr. Margalit Meir – Member of Jerusalem city council
Mr. Marze Shmulik – Member, ‘Kol Acher, Sderot’
Ms. Molad-Haio Tammi
Prof. Moore Dahlia – College of Management
Prof. Nadler Arie – Tel Aviv University
Dr. Netzer Olek
Prof. Neumann Joseph – Tel Aviv University
Prof. Newman David – Ben Gurion University
MK. Oron Haim (Jumes)
Ms. Patir Yael – Palestinian-Israeli Peace NGO Forum
Dr. Patir Assaf
Dr. Paz Yehudah – Founder, Negev Institute for Strategies of Peace and Development
Prof. Pedatzur Reuven – Tel Aviv University
Mr. Peled Roy – Board Member, HaShomer HaTzair
Dr. Pundak Ron – Director General, the Peres Center For Peace
Mr. Raviv Eyal – Founder, mepeace.org
Mr. Raz Naftali – Council for Peace Initiatives,
Mr. Raz Mossi – Manager, Radio all for Peace
Dr. Resh Nura Machsom Watch
Prof.(Emeritus) Ronen Avraham Tel Aviv University
Mr. Rosen Giora
Mr. Rosin Joshua
Prof. Sagi-Schwartz Avi – University of Haifa
Prof. Sagy Shifrah – Ben Gurion University
Amb. Savir Uri – President, The Peres Center for Peace
Mr. Schenker Hillel – Co-editor, Palestine-Israel Journal
Prof. Schnell Izhak – Tel Aviv University
Ms. Segal Dalia
Ms. Shafran Hassida
Dr. Shainskaya Alla – Weitzman Institute
Rabbi Shaked Saar
Dr. Sharvit Keren
Prof. Sheffer Gabriel – The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Prof.(Emeritus) Shokeid Moshe Tel Aviv University
Ms. Silver Vivian – Negev Institute for Strategies of Peace and Development, (NISPED)
Mr. Sobol Joshua – Playwright and Author
Adv. Solel Yifat
