Mid-East peace activists speak out

Leading Palestinians and Israelis join to call for peace

A group of Israeli and Palestinian intellectuals and politicians have signed a joint declaration calling for an end to violence and the resumption of peace talks.

This document was reached to prove that there are different voices from the voice of extremism... that there is an alternative to violence and to the practices of the illegal occupation

Hanan Ashrawi

The declaration is the first document of its kind since the start of the Palestinian uprising last September.

About 100 people signed the declaration with almost equal numbers of Palestinians and Israelis.

The document says mistakes have been made on all sides, and calls for the implementation of the Mitchell Report, which was published more than two months ago and recommends a series of measures aimed at reducing the violence.

'Not naive'

Two former Israeli cabinet ministers signed the declaration, Yossi Beilin and Chaim Oron.

Israeli peace activists demonstrate in Jerusalem

"We know that our efforts will not be enough to end the violence. We are not naïve, but we wanted to establish a common denominator between us," Mr Beilin said.

The Palestinian signatories were led by Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo and Legislative Council Member Hanan Ashrawi.

"This document was reached to prove that there are different voices from the voice of extremism... that there is an alternative to violence and to the practices of the illegal occupation," Mrs Ashrawi said.

The declaration says that "the way forward lies in international legitimacy and the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338 leading to a two state solution based on the 1967 borders".

It expresses the hope that Israelis and Palestinians can live "side by side, with their respective capitals in Jerusalem".

The document argues that the full and immediate implementation of the Mitchell Report - with its call for the cessation of violence and a total freeze on settlement activity - is crucial.