The Council of Elders, on Thursday, urged US President Joe Biden to seize the “historic opportunity” to craft a plan for lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians that undermines extremists on both sides.
In an open letter, the group established by Nelson Mandela in 2007, which includes senior officials, peace activists, and human rights advocates, called on the US President to outline a “vision for peace.”
This plan should be based on a two-state solution, recognizing the equal rights of Palestinians and Israelis, as stated by the signatories, which include Mary Robinson, the chair of the group and former President of Ireland, along with two Nobel Peace Prize laureates.
The plan should rest on international law, determine who will control Gaza, address Israel’s legitimate security concerns, and end Israel’s accelerated annexation of Palestinian territories, according to the letter.
The letter continues, “As polarisation increases, the world needs you to set out a vision for peace.”
“That vision must give hope to those who reject extremism and want the violence to end.”
The Elders acknowledge that creating a peace plan will take time and a great deal of political courage.
While the signatories decried “Hamas’s appalling attacks on 7 October,” they also believe that the destruction of Gaza and the killing of civilians do not make Israelis safer.
They assert that these actions will lead to “further terrorism in the region and beyond, emphasizing that there is no military solution to this conflict.
The letter concludes by stating that history will never forget Biden’s pledge to shape an alliance of partners committed to a just settlement and capable of producing a viable project.
