"An Israeli initiative worth watching" By Rami G. Khouri

"The main but deep weakness of the initiative – reflecting long-standing distortions in Israeli and American approaches to resolving this conflict – is that it embraces the importance of resolving the core, existential need of Israelis for official Arab recognition and security guarantees; however, it refuses to apply the same standard of seriousness or intensity in addressing the core, existential need of the Palestinians to have their refugee status acknowledge and redressed in accordance with prevailing international legal norms. The initiative is also a private one by individuals out of power, and thus carries fascinating political symbolism but no real weight, as of now." Rami G. Khouri

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=5&article_id=126986#axzz1J1VXZEK7

An Israeli initiative worth watching
By Rami G. Khouri
Saturday, April 09, 2011