Israel believes that the right way to solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is to build a shared future of two states for two peoples: a Palestinian state for the Palestinian people and a Jewish state for the Jewish people. It is Israel’s hope that the Jewish, democratic State of Israel, living in security and free from the threat of terror, will exist alongside a peace-seeking, viable, strong, democratic and terror-free Palestinian state. Each state would embody the national aspirations of each people, and provide a homeland for the individuals of that nation, wherever they may be.
Israel also desires to make peace with the entire Arab and Muslim world.
Israel wants to live a life of peace and partnership and to establish normal relations with the entire Arab world. Israel aspires to normalization with those Arab states which eschew radical and extremist fundamentalism, and which seek to give their citizens a more moderate, tolerant and prosperous world.
Israel is willing to make painful territorial compromises for peace.
Not long ago, Israel disengaged from Gaza. Israel left Gaza, dismantled settlements, withdrew its army, and took risks with the understanding that this would not be the last step. Israel is prepared to make painful compromises in its pursuit of peace, provided that it does not endanger the lives of its citizens.
Peace is not merely an agreement in exchange for land. For Israel, peace means ending incitement, ending support of terrorism, actively opposing terrorist activities, ending arms smuggling, and dismantling terrorist bases of operations. It is the central task of the entire world leadership, and especially of the Arab and Muslim world, to cope with extremists and terrorism.
Israel is committed to the peace process, but cannot ignore reality.
The Gaza Strip, which is expected to form part of the Palestinian state, is currently controlled by the terrorist organization Hamas and arms continue to flow into it. Under Hamas rule, Kassam rockets are continually launched against tens of thousands of residents in the south of Israel. To the north, Hizbullah - the long arm of Iran - prevents stability in Lebanon and persists in arming itself in blatant violation of UN resolutions. Iran is threatening the entire region, and extremist entities within many countries are being manipulated from outside by radical organizations. Now, more than ever, Israel and moderate countries must work together to confront these threats.
Annapolis was the beginning of three parallel tracks: the political, the practical, and the regional.
The first, the political track, is an ongoing bilateral dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians in an attempt to reach the agreements that will allow for the realization of the two-state vision.
The negotiations will be based on previous agreements between Israel, UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, the Roadmap and the 14 April 2004 letter of President Bush to the Prime Minister of Israel.
The second track is the practical track, in which the agreements reached by the sides will be implemented on the ground. These concrete steps will be conditional upon the prior implementation of the Roadmap in all its phases and according to its sequence, as accepted by both parties. Consequently, the practical track requires hard and diligent work on the part of the Palestinians, in confronting the terrorist organizations wherever they are. It is a battle against the terrorist leaders, a battle against incitement, and a battle against their patrons. Israel, for its part, will abide by all of its obligations to the Roadmap as well.
The third track is the regional track. Israel hopes that Arab participation in Annapolis represents an expression of support for the bilateral process, support for a legitimate Palestinian government and support for the moderate elements in the region. Israel also expects that the process begun at Annapolis will bring with it the beginning of the normalization in stages and in pace with the steps that Israel will take to benefit the Palestinians.
Israel’s strong desire to make peace with its various neighbors does not replace the process of direct negotiation with the Palestinians.
Israel’s final goal is comprehensive peace in the region for all the peoples and all states.
Israel is a tiny country with a small population, but rich in good will and blessed with a capacity to create a partnership which will lead to prosperity, growth, economic development and stability for the entire region.
It has always been Israel's greatest desire to make peace with its Palestinian neighbors. The Annapolis meeting marked an important step on the journey towards that goal.