Informal Peace Plan for Mideast Is Unveiled in Geneva

[Classical_Liberal]

Informal Peace Plan for Mideast Is Unveiled in Geneva
By ELAINE SCIOLINO

Published: December 1, 2003



ENEVA, Dec. 1 — To prove that Middle East peacemaking is possible, self-appointed Israeli and Palestinian negotiators came together here today to sign a sweeping shadow agreement that calls for creation of a Palestinian state and provides a mechanism for resolving the status of Israeli settlements, Palestinian refugees and the city of Jerusalem.
The unreality of the event was overshadowed by the painful pleas from the Israeli and Palestinian negotiators to their leaders to talk to each other once again about a permanent solution.

"The document is virtual, but all of us are real, and our heartbeats are real," the head of the Israeli side, Yossi Beilin, who served as justice minister in a Labor government, said in a speech to an audience that included more than 300 Israelis and Palestinians. "We are saying to the world: `Don't believe those who tell you that our conflict is unsolvable. Don't try to help us manage the conflict. Help us to end it.' "

His message of urgency was echoed in the words of his Palestinian negotiating partner, Yasir Abed Rabbo, a former Palestinian information minister. "Our critics say that officials should make such agreements, not representatives of civil society," Mr. Abed Rabbo said. "We could not agree more. But what can we do if officials do not meet, if governments do not negotiate? We can't wait and watch as the future of our two nations slides deeper into catastrophe.".......

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/01/international/middleeast/01CND-PEAC.html?ex=1070946000&en=1c701532d391f8b9&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE