Towards a New Path for Peace

Throughout my life in Israel, and over the past forty-seven years, I have sought Palestinian partners who share the same values and vision of the world as I do, and I have found them. This means they believe that Israel and Palestine must find a path to peace. And this path to peace must be based on the belief that on the land stretching between the river and the sea, two peoples live who are deeply connected to the same land – historically and religiously.

And the shared vision must be that both peoples have the right to self-determination on this land – that is, two states for two peoples. And the decisive element for me in determining whether the partnership is genuine or not is the belief that cross-border cooperation is what creates peace, not high walls or strong fences.

I have always had doubts about those who promote the separation model (we here and they there), because they are unable to envision actually achieving peace, and do not truly believe in it. Politicians, even in the left-wing ranks, who focus on separation between Israel and Palestine, and who emphasize separation not only as a political separation, fear presenting a vision of peace as a reality in which Israelis and Palestinians continue to interact and cooperate – because true peace cannot be anything else.

Most Israelis and Palestinians say: «I want peace» – but they do not believe that the other side wants it. And objectively, Israelis and Palestinians alike have sufficient evidence to justify the claim that the other side does not want peace. And it is often difficult to find people, especially leaders, on both sides who show a genuine commitment to real peace with the other side. They exist, but they are not dominant, and rarely speak of real peace.

At the end of April 2026, Palestinians are scheduled to hold local elections in cities, towns, and villages throughout Palestine. And within one year of the end of the war, national elections for the presidency and parliament are supposed to be held. This will be the first test of its kind to know where the positions of Palestinian public opinion have reached. The last Palestinian elections were held in 2006.

How will Israelis (and Palestinians as well) react if there is a leading Palestinian political party that carries the following program?

The Political Program

The party is founded on the firm conviction that the Palestinian people deserve a democratic, fair, and modern political system – a system that serves citizens, not factions, protects freedoms, and opens a realistic path towards independence, prosperity, and peace.

The party envisions an independent Palestinian state living side by side with Israel, based on full political, economic, diplomatic, and security cooperation. And we believe that sustainable stability and dignity for both peoples can only be achieved through partnership, mutual recognition, and shared responsibility.

Democratic Governance and Civil Liberties

The party is committed to building a liberal parliamentary democracy based on the separation of powers, the rule of law, and the supremacy of elected institutions. We support an accountable government, an independent judiciary, and transparent public administration.

The party defends individual rights and freedoms, including freedom of expression, free and independent media, political pluralism, and the right to peaceful protest. Public office is a responsibility, not a privilege, and opportunities must be based on competence and merit – not loyalty or favoritism.

Palestinian women and youth are a fundamental axis in our vision – not as symbols, but as equal partners in leadership, representation, and decision-making.

Social Justice and Development

The party believes that political freedom must be accompanied by economic opportunities and social justice. We call for comprehensive economic development, equal access to education and employment, and fair distribution of public resources. A strong Palestinian state must be productive, innovative, and capable of providing dignity and opportunities for all its citizens.

The Pillars of the Palestinian State – The Four Pillars

The party believes that the establishment of a viable and responsible Palestinian state must be based on four fundamental pillars (the four pillars):

•       Demilitarized: Ensuring security through professional institutions, the rule of law, and regional cooperation, not through militias or armed factions.

•       De-radicalized: Rejecting extremism, incitement, and violence, and promoting tolerance, civic education, and peaceful political participation.

•       Democratic: Governed by elected institutions, accountable leadership, and guaranteeing civil rights.

•       Developed: An economically strong state, integrated into regional and global markets, and capable of achieving prosperity for its people.

The Political Settlement and the Two-State Framework

The party supports the two-state solution through negotiations, based on the 1967 borders, with an agreed land swap of approximately 5%. This framework allows for:

•       Geographical continuity between Gaza and the West Bank, and the annexation of about 80% of Israeli Jewish settlements to Israel, within the framework of the final status agreement.

•       Jerusalem as the capital of both states: Palestinian neighborhoods as the capital of the State of Palestine, and Jewish neighborhoods as the capital of the State of Israel.

•       The Old City of Jerusalem not subject to exclusive sovereignty, but managed by a special international committee including Palestine, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, ensuring freedom of worship, access, and protection of holy sites.

Refugees and Reconciliation

The party supports redefining the right of return as the right of Palestinian refugees to return to the State of Palestine, alongside: full compensation, and voluntary integration options in the Palestinian state or, in agreed cases, in third countries. This approach aims to achieve justice, dignity, and realism – without perpetuating the conflict.

Regional Integration and Peace

The Palestinian-Israeli partnership envisioned by the party is part of a broader regional future: full integration of Israel into the Middle East, with comprehensive diplomatic and economic relations with the Arab and Islamic worlds, alongside a sovereign and democratic Palestinian state.

The party categorically rejects violence as a political tool. We believe that dialogue, persuasion, and diplomacy – not coercion or armed struggle – are the only legitimate means to achieve national goals.

Our moderation is not weakness; it is strategic responsibility. Our vision is not an abstract theory; it is practical, balanced, and achievable.

The party was founded to offer Palestinians a reliable political alternative – an alternative that restores confidence, renews leadership, and opens a real path towards the state, peace, and shared regional prosperity.

Amazing and sincere!

What an amazing program. And it is not fantasy. This is indeed the political program of a new Palestinian party. This party will participate in the local and national elections in Palestine during 2026. Its establishment and electoral strategy will be announced soon.

This Palestinian political party constitutes a challenge to everything we have known so far. It is a challenge to the existing Palestinian political parties that have dominated Palestinian political life for decades. This new party is the new vision, the new hope for Palestine, but it is also hope for Israel. Let us see Israeli political parties adopt a parallel political program. When that happens, we will be more able to envision the possibility of real peace.

* Director of Middle East Affairs at the International Communities Organization, and Co-Chair of the Two States Alliance.