Ramallah, 21-04-08: Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi MP, Secretary General of the Palestinian National Initiative, today welcomed the efforts of former US President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Jimmy Carter to transform the current political dynamic in the region.
"Jimmy Carter is true to his commitment to peace, and has taken brave steps to create a breakthrough towards a political solution based on an independent Palestinian state on all the territories occupied in 1967,” he said.
"The Annapolis peace process has utterly failed. Instead of taking decisive steps towards peace, Israel has responded by expanding settlements, and deepening its Apartheid system and its inhumane siege on the Gaza Strip, once again rejecting the principles of peace on the basis of two states," he continued.
“Military aggression, the expansion of settlements and collective punishment play no part in a true peace process,” added Dr. Barghouthi. "It is now time to engage in dialogue and consensus-building, and to respect the democratic choice of the Palestinian people and international law."
Dr. Barghouthi called for the international community to build on the momentum created by Jimmy Carter‘s visit to initiate a true peace process, based on security for Israelis and Palestinians alike, and an end to the siege on Gaza.