200 former Israeli senior security officials call for freeze on settlement building, acceptance of the Arab Peace Initiative, and recognition that East Jerusalem should be a part of a future Palestinian state; the former security officials also urge the completion of the security fence.
The group of more than 200 Israeli generals, Mossad, Shin Bet, police, and intelligence officials criticized the
government for a lack of action in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict last Friday .
Amnon Reshef
With peace talks in a deep freeze the plan by Commanders for Israel’s Security on Friday called to “preserve conditions” for negotiations with the Palestinians. It urges a combination of political and security initiatives together with delivering economic benefits to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem simultaneously.
The group’s chairman, Amnon Reshef, a former IDF general, said the plan “refutes the fear mongers” who claim there is currently no Palestinian peace partner. He warned “the current status quo is an illusion” that endangers a two-state solution to the conflict. “In our experience we know that you cannot defeat terror only by military means, you have to improve the Palestinians quality of life.”