The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) is calling on all parties to the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process to adopt a forward looking approach in the negotiations that will resume tomorrow under the auspices of the United States.
This opportunity for direct talks, after two years of silence between the Israeli and Palestinian leaders, represents an occasion to reconsider positions and demands that have so far hindered any possible progress in the settlement of the dispute.
PAM invites the leaders of both sides, who are members of the Assembly, to consider as a priority over other political and economic issues, the human factor, so as to put an end to the suffering of the Israeli and Palestinian civilians.
While the Assembly is fully aware that years of disagreement and conflict cannot be overturned in a short period, it however believes that the role of the international community is fundamental in continuing to facilitate a more concrete rapprochement between the two peoples.
PAM, on its part, has been following the issue through a series of parliamentary diplomacy initiatives, among which a high level mission in the region in 2009 led by PAM President, Hon. Rudy Salles (France). Another important event took place in February this year, with the International Meeting in support of Israeli Palestinian Peace held in collaboration with the United Nations in Malta. The purpose of the Meeting was to provide a forum for the exchange of views on the state of the peace process and to encourage a constructive dialogue among the stakeholders on how to create a political climate conducive to the resumption of the peace negotiations on permanent status issues.
The Assembly has also set up a dedicated Ad hoc Committee, chaired by Maltese MP, Hon. George Vella, within which all major issues pertaining to the Peace Process are regularly researched, analysed and discussed by the parliamentarians of the Mediterranean Member States.
PAM therefore expresses its full support to this fresh round of talks, confident that the time is mature to reach concrete results on which to further ease the tension and build bridges for peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians, and to achieve a permanent two-State solution in which Israel and Palestine would live side by side in peace and security.