His is a sane and matured voice in the Israeli government. He wants Israelis and Palestinians to live side-by-side and peacefully together. He advocates Israel withdraw to its pre-1967 positions and withdraw all the settlements from West Bank and Gaza. He is Ami Ayalon, minister without portfolio in the Olmert government, and number two in the Labour party. He is a retired admiral in the Israeli navy and ex-chief of the Shin Bet [Israeli secret service].
Why is he for talks with the Palestinians [including Hamas]? Because he says he has killed more Palestine fighters than Hamas has killed Israelis. Just because someone has killed Israelis in the past does not mean that we should not talk with them. He supports talking with Hamas too, provided they give up their violent ways.
He is the co-author of a peace initiative called, “The People’s Voice”, which he started together with Palestinian professor Sari Nusseibeh. Reportedly a total of 253,000 Israelis and 161,000 Palestinians have joined the movement till date.
Ayalon says that Palestinians have always responded well to any genuine Israeli peace proposal. He says Hamas is not a mere terror outfit; it is also a way of life and a religious movement. Hamas has charities, they have municipal organizations, and they have financial organizations. Palestinians only support Hamas’ violent ways when they feel insulted by the Israelis. If Israel offers an honest peace proposal to the Palestinians they will answer with peace and friendship. If Palestinians were to decide on peace Hamas would have to follow suit as it is rooted in the Palestine people. Though he feels there are unyielding hardline elements in Hamas, as a result this will lead to a break-up of the outfit.
Regarding the forthcoming Fatah-Israel peace talks scheduled next month, Ayalon suggests Israel invite Hamas too, on the condition that it will be ready to accept whatever deal Fatah boss, Mahmoud Abbas, signs with Olmert. But it is highly unlikely that Hamas will agree to meekly go along with that, considering the hostility that exists between the two Palestinian factions.
