Israel will not allow Hamas to destroy the chances for peace.
The Obama administration’s new Middle East envoy, former U.S. Senator George Mitchell, met with Middle East leaders in an attempt to strengthen the ceasefire in Gaza as Hamas mortar shells were fired into Israel. Mitchell arrived in Israel Wednesday after speaking with Egyptian leaders earlier in the day. Mitchell was dispatched by President Barack Obama to hear from leaders in the region and report his findings.
President Shimon Peres met privately with Mitchell on Wednesday afternoon. Addressing Mitchell prior to departing for the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, Peres stated, "I am delighted to receive an old friend and a person very capable of making peace. I am sure that Senator Mitchell will contribute greatly to the peace process at this demanding time." Peres added, “You are for peace, and we are for peace. You are against terror, and we are against terror. We should work together fully, and your success will be our success."
At the end of their meeting, Peres said, "I assure you, there is no contradiction between the stances of the United States and Israel. Both the United States and Israel want peace and believe that we must fight against terror, chiefly Hamas and Iran. We must fight terrorism and simultaneously advance peace. Israel will not allow Hamas to destroy the chances for peace, and we will work to cultivate the goodwill that is necessary to conclude a peace agreement with the Palestinians."
Olmert: No Gaza Crossings without Gilad Shalit
Mitchell subsequently met with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. During the meeting, Olmert informed Mitchell that until the release of abducted soldier Gilad Shalit, the crossings to Gaza would remain shut. They will only be open to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza residents.
Olmert similarly clarified to Mitchell that establishing a ceasefire in the region is contingent on an end to the firing of rockets and mortar shells, the cessation of terrorist activities in Gaza, and the end to the smuggling of weapons into Gaza. “Israel will respond if the understanding of the two parameters is breached,” Olmert stated.
The U.S. envoy also met with Foreign Affairs Minister Tzipi Livni. During the meeting, Livni outlined Israel’s strategy and the manner in which it would engage in American-Israeli cooperation in all areas involving mutual interests in the region.
Minister Livni stated during the meeting, “Israel aspires to attain a peace agreement that will represent its security and national interests. Only an agreement such as this would be acceptable to Israel. In order for political negotiations to succeed, Israel is obligated to continue its war on terror anywhere that it exists and operates against us.”
Livni emphasized, “Only a dual strategy of advancing the political process towards a fight against terrorism will succeed. Israel believes in the dream of two nation states, and Palestinian refugees cannot enter Israel.”
She added that “Israel and the U.S. are able and need to translate their joint interests for a joint working program that will strengthen the level-headed entities in the region, and will strike at the extremist parties who are active in our region, such as Iran and Hamas.”
Mitchell Discusses Egyptian Attempts to Broker Peace
Prior to his visit with Israeli officials, Mitchell met with reporters in Cairo. "It is of critical importance that the ceasefire be extended and consolidated and we support Egypt's continuing efforts in that regard,” he said.
Mitchell met with President Hosni Mubarak earlier in the day, and discussed Egypt's attempts to broker an agreement between Israel and Hamas.
The American envoy said the new U.S. administration is dedicated to vigorously pushing for peace and stability in the Middle East. "The decision by President Obama to dispatch me to come to this region less than one week after his inauguration is a clear and tangible evidence of this commitment," he said.