Together with experts from a dozen countries – from Brazil to Pakistan - we took part in a conference of the Portugese Institute for Strategic Studies. In the debate about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Ahmad Khalidi, the editor of a prestigious Palestinian publication and the scion of one of the most distinguished families in Jerusalem, also took part.

In my lecture I criticized the reluctance of Europe to exert pressure for peace. I said that this attitude was “scandalous”. Khalidi, on his part, also harshly criticized the Europeans.

When it was Moratino’s turn to speak, he reacted angrily. How do you have the impertinence to complain about Europe? He asked, raising his voice. Where is the Israeli peace movement that should have changed the political situation in Israel? Why is its voice not heard? Do you want Europe to do your job for you? And, addressing Khalidi: You want Europe to do something for you? Then first of all please put an end to terrorism! If you are not able to do this, don’t blame Europe! Blame yourself! If both of you do your part, Europe will do its share, too!

(By the way, during the official dinner, Moratinos recounted that after the failure of the Camp David summit, the Europeans talked the Americans into setting up a Clinton-Arafat meeting. Arafat was due to fly to Washington on January 1, 2001. But Ehud Barak opposed it so violently, that the meeting was cancelled and the Taba talks took place instead.)

Moratinos was quite right in his criticism. We tend indeed to blame others for our own failures. We cannot demand that foreigners – whether Europeans or Americans – do our job for us. If the peace camp does not constitute a political power in Israel, we should not blame others. The same goes for the Palestinians.

After the debate we shook hands. I honestly admitted that he was right. Khalidi did the same. But in recent weeks, things have happened on all four fronts – Israeli, Palestinian, American and European – which may indicate that matters are beginning to move.

On the Israeli front, the most high profile event is the launching ceremony for the “Geneva Understandings” that is scheduled for this coming Monday. After the young men who refuse army service in the occupied areas, the revolt of the airforce pilots, the Ayalon-Nusseibeh initiative, the declaration of the four former Security Service chiefs and the warning of the Chief-of-Staff, the Geneva initiative is a further step in the same direction.

For three years, the extra-establishment peace forces stood alone on the battlefield. We protested, demonstrated, maintained contact with the Palestinians, aroused world opinion. All this time, the bigger, establishment-connected peace movement remained in a state of collapse and uttered hardly a squeak. The brutality of the occupation intensified from day to day, Sharon did whatever he wanted, the opposition was comatose. The slogan was “There is no one to talk to”.

Now there is an awakening. It seems that the public has had enough of the bloody confrontation. It understands by now that there is no military solution and that the confrontation is destroying our economy and increasing poverty. The Geneva Initiative has come at exactly the right time to express this new mood.

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