The Palestinian leadership…to where?

Additional tactics include chaining oneself to objects and to one another, defying curfews, filling Israeli jails by peacefully surrendering to Israeli security forces, and disobeying laws that ban the flying of the Palestinian flag while preventing the burning of Israeli flags.

I am prepared to go as far as suggesting, however farfetched it may seem, that the Palestinians should raise the Israeli flag side by side the Palestinians' to demonstrate to every Israeli the Palestinians' acceptance of peaceful coexistence under any circumstances.

Your best ally and supporter to end the occupation is in fact the Israeli public-you must persuade the Israelis of your good intentions and reinforce what you have recently stated, that you "want to see peace in [your] lifetime", and you are ready to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu "at any time."

Mr. Abbas, you have persevered this long, and if I were you, I would continue my peaceful fight and focus on reconciliation, first by demanding from your subordinates to tone down their acrimonious narrative against Israel. Second, you must insist on a reconciliation process through people-to-people projects on which to build a lasting solution.

After seven decades, all Palestinians, young and old, have the inherent right to live in peace:

Free of the shackles that have stemmed their growth;Free of the occupation that has robbed them of their freedom;Free of misguided leaders who have been using them as objects;Free of sinister and selfish politicians;Free to live a productive life with dignity;And free to live with Israel in peace and amity.

Whereas Israel has become a leading country in so many spheres of life, it has failed to confront its conflict with the Palestinians, without which all of its achievements will not enjoy a day of peace and secure future.

The Palestinian leadership chose to battle Israel on every front, depriving their people of the prospect of living in peace and denying the inescapable reality that Israel is here to stay. Both Israelis and Palestinians alike must accept that their destinies are and will remain intertwined and it takes leaders with courage, vision, and determination to guide them to their shared destiny.

Respectfully yours,Alon Ben-Meir