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Last update - 04:08 19/04/2009 Peace now By Haaretz Editorial Tags: Barack Obama  History provides very few opportunities to utterly change political realities. It seems such an opportunity has presented itself. U.S. President Barack Obama's peace plan is giving Israel and the entire region a rare chance for real change; it must not be missed. In the plan, whose main points were reported by Akiva Eldar in Haaretz on Friday, Israel will hold bilateral talks with the Palestinians and Syrians at the same time. It is based on the Saudi peace plan, which offers Israel normalization with the Arab world in exchange for withdrawing from the territories and the establishment of a Palestinian state. The United States, for its part, will offer Israel a security package to include a demilitarization of the territories and the stationing of a multinational force there for a few years. It is a comprehensive move to bring peace to the region, which for decades has been unable to escape the cycle of violence and bloodshed. Now is the time for bold moves. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government have been given the chance to surprise the whole world and shake off the meaningless past formulas; to respond to the initiative courageously and enthusiastically. Now that the dream of a Greater Israel has been set aside, even by some people on the right, we must hope Netanyahu will continue what another prime minister from his party started 30 years ago - Menachem Begin. Advertisement There is now a president in Washington who wants to leave his mark of change on the world. We must hope we have such a statesman in Jerusalem, too. Some Arab regimes want peace and normalization with Israel, and hope to rein in fundamentalism, as does Israel. There is no better weapon against fundamentalism than peace. This is Netanyahu's chance to enter the history books; a right-wing prime minister who displays leadership and shows his people and country the way to peace, security and prosperity. We must not fear the plan's great scope and boldness; peace can be achieved with both Syria and the Palestinians. This is not the time to mention the difficulties that could block the path, it is the time to see the opportunities. So next month, when Netanyahu goes to Washington, he will have to join Obama's impressive effort and say to his host clearly: Israel wants peace and is ready for peace now. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Branding Eli Wiesel WATCH: On Holocaust Day, Ahmadinejad entourage calls Nobel laureate a 'Zio-Nazi.' Remembering Shoah IN PICTURES / Annual memorial day begins with ceremony at Yad Vashem museum.   1.   Can we trust Bibi? 05:51  |  Yaakov 19/04/09   2.   Unfortunate 05:27  |  Tom 19/04/09   3.   Pooh or off the pot! 08:55  |  Jim Anderson 19/04/09   4.   Haven`t I met you before? 11:41  |  Steve Goodman 19/04/09   5.   What constitutes "Palestine"? 14:23  |  idf_sergeant 19/04/09   6.   Arab world not seeking Peace 14:40  |  Dani 19/04/09   7.   Arab Peace Plan 16:58  |  Robert Wheeldon 19/04/09   8.   Arab Peace Plan 17:11  |  Robert Wheeldon 19/04/09   9.   Re #3 17:45  |  RME 19/04/09   10.   US president 18:34  |  Ralph 19/04/09   11.   Peace 19:03  |  David Zohar 19/04/09   12.   More crap now 19:34  |  Frank 19/04/09   13.   Peace Now Editorial 21:37  |  John Weiss 19/04/09   14.   Peace now 08:11  |  Julio 20/04/09   15.   PEACE 08:20  |  Dr. Abe Simhony 20/04/09   16.   peace plan 08:23  |  Julio 20/04/09   17.   Good on you... 11:09  |  Cesare 20/04/09   18.   Bibi can be open but pal must want peace for real and lasting 17:21  |  ks 20/04/09   19.   to Robert Wheeldon #8 19:16  |  zeev 20/04/09   20.   to Robert Wheeldon #8 09:06  |  zeev 22/04/09

Read & React WATCH: Ahmadinejad entourage brands Elie Wiesel 'Zio-Nazi' Responses: 91 Lieberman: U.S. to accept any Israeli policy decision Responses: 81 U.K. to review arms exports to Israel in wake of Gaza war Responses: 94 Gideon Levy: Even if Netanyahu backs Palestinian statehood, occupation to flourish Responses: 24 More Headlines 14:27 Lieberman: Right of return makes Arab plan unacceptable 10:00 Obama aims to push peace through settlement freeze, normalization 09:12 Report: Olmert, Livni may face war crimes charges in Norway 11:53 Ahmadinejad lambasts Israel again after Durban II walk-out 11:02 Netanyahu to hold special meeting on Shalit 14:41 Paul Reiser is mad about Israel 13:18 Iran welcomes talks, but vows to continue nuclear program 22:31 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel 13:44 Why did 150,000 Israelis join a worthless Facebook group? 13:48 Employment Service: Another 130,000 Israelis will lose jobs by year's end 09:44 Sources: U.S. may drop AIPAC spy case 12:56 Police arrest man suspected of being 'Israeli Madoff' 11:42 Tourism Min.: Pope shouldn't meet 'terror-backing' Arab mayor Previous Editions Select Day 21 apr 20 apr 19 apr 17 apr 16 apr 15 apr 14 apr 13 apr 12 apr 10 apr 09 apr 08 apr

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