Urgently needed: Agreed Principles for Initiating a Political Process - by Ambassador (ret.) Michael Harari

The impression this conveys to the international arena is that Israel is not interested in discussing alternatives towards ending the war and adopting steps for stabilizing the situation in the Gaza strip and beyond. [...] This is occurring despite the common interest shared by Israel and most of the relevant actors in the region and beyond – that Hamas must be prevented from ending the war in a position of an achievement, a prospect that would have negative implications in the region and beyond. [...] The Palestinian Authority is the only legitimate address for the Palestinians: It is vital to reiterate that the PA is the only address for any political-economic- security discourse between Israel and the Palestinians and the International community. [...] In the Palestinian arena: The absence of elections since 2006, high level of corruption, and loss of confidence in the ability of the PA, and of its President Mahmud Abas, to lead a real political process, have brought the status of the Palestinian Authority to a low ebb. [...] In the Israeli arena: The differences of opinions and divisions in the coalition, and more seriously within the Israeli society deeper than ever before.