Peace between Israel and the Arab nations and a two-state solution for Palestine and Israel are still possible, according to Yossi Beilen, a key Israeli negotiator in the 1993 Oslo Accords, which initiated the first Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Beilin made his comments at a Feb. 6, 2025 lecture at the University of California’s Los Angeles Y&S Nazarian Center for Israel Studies.
Admitting that he was an optimist who believes his ideas on the path to peace can be successful, he said that even Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the ultimate opportunist, who in the past has said he supported a two-state solution, could conceivably make a peace agreement. First, he said that Hamas cannot be allowed to rule Gaza; the Palestinian Authority must return. They should be backed by an Arab security force which he claims Arab countries are prepared to carry out. He proposes a confederation of two sovereign states, Israel and the State of Palestine defined by the June 1967 borders. As for the 500,000 Israeli settlers within Palestinian borders, they could be given a choice of remaining as Israeli citizens as residents under complete Palestinian State jurisdiction, or to leave with compensation. He expressed his belief more than half would leave, while no more than 150,000 who live in the old settlements along the Israeli border might stay. He had discussed this with a group of Israeli and Palestinian personalities and believes it would be possible. He also suggested that Jordan be a member of this confederation.
When asked what can be done to build a movement for peace now, when the majority of Palestinians and Israelis think it is impossible, Beilin said he believes in leadership and not a bottom-up approach. Before the Oslo Accords, he said, no one believed in even talking to the Palestinians, but because of one man, then-Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, it happened and was supported by the government and the majority of the population.