Plan for Arab-Israeli Reconciliation
The P.A.I.R. Initiative

Resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict has thus far defied long term efforts by the affected parties and by outside intervention. Nevertheless the same failed Oslo Accords, dressed in new clothes, and with the possibility of an externally imposed solution, have been re-introduced as the Roadmap plan. Merely calling something a “peace plan” does not necessarily make it so. A genuine solution requires the courage to engage in radically fresh thinking that is free of prior assumptions and constraints. Furthermore, this conflict cannot be solved in isolation from its many historical, religious, political, economic and social roots, all of which must be taken fully into account.

The time is long overdue to consider other approaches and open the field to independent grass roots initiatives - i.e. a ‘free market’ for peace plans. If “war is too important to leave exclusively to the generals”, as they say, then peace is also too important to leave exclusively to the diplomats. History shows that better ideas can also originate from non-official sources and those ideas should be judged entirely on their merits and not on their origins. All those claiming to seek a just and peaceful resolution have a moral obligation to consider all proposals, regardless of origin and with an open mind.

There can be disagreement over ideologies, but there must be some common starting point upon which all must agree. We insist that any viable approach must begin with faithful adherence, by all sides, to the following four immutable principles which precede and ideology:

1. Tell the truth, the whole truth. and nothing but the truth.*

2. Apply the same standards to all sides with no exceptions.**

3. Keep all promises.

4. Respect and protect the vital interests of all sides, i.e. no “winner take all” solutions.

* “... you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness against your fellow.” - Commandments eight and nine of the Ten Commandments.

** “O ye who believe ! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be against rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts of your hearts, lest ye swerve, and if ye distort justice or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well acquainted with all that ye do.” - Qur’an 4:135

It is far more difficult now to introduce an alternative plan than it would have been years ago, before attitudes became deeply entrenched. But that is no reason to forgo the effort. Because the current situation is so dangerous, any real peace plan must therefore be bold and imaginative, yet fair and practical. We must realize that any new and unfamiliar approach to peacemaking may generate fierce opposition by entrenched interests.

We believe this plan can withstand scrutiny, reasonably answer any objection, and win out in any open debate. Success toward peace and security cannot be guaranteed, but no harm can come from advocating for this plan and debating it. Failing even to try new approaches would be irresponsible.

Backers of the Roadmap enjoy undeserved and unearned credibility mainly by virtue of their being part of the establishment with its attendant prestige. This makes it difficult for any alternative plan, having grass roots origins, to be noticed, much less allowed into any serious debate. It will therefore be necessary to first demonstrate the unworkability of the Roadmap.. Once this is done, people will be ready to seriously consider alternative approaches to peace and to engage in a free and open debate.

We invite serious readers to patiently examine this plan with an open mind. We will try to respond to serious and sincere questions. A conflict possessing such deep roots cannot be solved in a simplistic manner. We do not claim to have a perfect solution containing all the answers. We do claim that our plan is far superior to any others that have been put forward. We believe that our plan deserves to be given a fair hearing and allowed to compete on its own merits with all other proposals.