Speech of Yossi Beilin during the solemn signing ceremony of the "Geneva initiative" on 1 December 2003 in Geneva:

Dear Friends,

Today we are revealing the biggest secret in the Middle East: Peace between Israelis and Palestinians is feasible.

It is not a matter of slogans, or very general principles, to which everybody may agree. Patriots on both sides were able to get to the details, and to offer a comprehensive solution, after 2.5 years of negotiations.

We are telling the two governments: Don't play for time; return immediately to the negotiations table, without preconditions. If you agree on the endgame, in the spirit of Geneva, it will be easier for you to implement the first two parts of the Road Map, and to reach a permanent solution.

We are putting our joint agreed proposal on the desks of the decision-makers, as a possible option to end the vicious cycle of violence.

This is not the celebration of an achievement. We are using the fact that we have achieved such a draft agreement to respond to the peoples' cries of  S.O.S. by presenting this proof that our condition is not terminal; there is a cure.

* The document is virtual, but all of us are real, and our heartbeats are real, and that's why we are committing ourselves to fight for peace, despite the harsh opposition both of us face, and despite the many threats to our lives.

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.

Extremists on both sides have made this conflict their way of life. They will tell you that it is impossible to end the violence, that the settlement enterprise is irreversible.

* We are saying to you: Every issue can be solved. Don't give up on us. Peace is right around the corner. Any solution will need the world to guarantee security, to monitor the arrangements, and to provide financial resources.

To the Palestinians and the Israelis: Those who say that there is nothing to talk about, are now faced with our plan. Those who say that there is nobody to talk to are watching today as hundreds of people from the hearts of our societies demonstrate their commitment to implement this plan.

We are not allowed to convene, neither on the Israeli side, nor on the Palestinian side. We can meet only away from home. But we are not ready to give up on each other, or on our future.

* The opportunity to have pragmatic partners who belong to the mainstream of our two societies is not open-ended. It is still possible, but the abyss looms closer and closer. If the right steps are not taken, the picture of this gathering in Geneva, might become one of the last glimpses of sanity from our region.

Today we are building a coalition of sanity that has a pragmatic solution to confront those whose sole solution is to eliminate the other side. The mission of all of us today is o enlarge our coalition as much as possible.

I wish to express my appreciation to President Carter, the person to whom so many of us in the Middle East owe their lives. Thank you for accompanying us and our work all along the way, and for helping us in difficult hours.

A word of thanks to Ms. Calmy-Rey, the Swiss Foreign Minister: You are a courageous person, and without the support you offered us, it could have been very difficult to succeed.

Many thanks to Dr. Alexis Keller, who opened so many doors for us in Switzerland, and who became an integral part of our team.

Thanks to the Japanese Government for all its help.

Thanks to the two devoted young men who drafted the document: Gaith El-Omari and Daniel Levy.

Thanks to all of you who are with us today, including the distinguished group of the Monaco Club, and so many other well-wishers.

And to you, Yasser Abed Rabbo, thank you for being my partner.

The last words of thanks are dedicated to a soldier of peace, who was killed 8 years ago. My strong feeling is that had he lived, we would have had a permanent peace agreement by the original date: May 4th, 1999. We are committed not only to remembering Yitzhak Rabin, but to fulfilling his legacy.

The words of the peace song, which were written on a piece of paper, found in his pocket, stained with his blood, will turn into reality. This is my strong commitment and my promise to you, Yitzhak Rabin.

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