“The confirmed death of the old peace is one of the most serious developments of 2011. Without a hope for peace, there is a greater risk that the Palestinian front will deteriorate. Without a peace process, there is a greater risk of an eruption in the Middle East. Without peace on the horizon, the occupation becomes more entrenched and threatens to bury us all.

That’s why the death of the old peace requires some creative thinking about a new peace – a peace that won’t be imminent, but gradual. A peace that won’t be final, but partial. A peace that will not necessarily be based on signed agreements. A peace that will learn lessons from the death the old peace and will adapt itself to a new, stormy, historic reality.

This new peace won’t be the peace of our dreams. It won’t be the peace that puts an end to the conflict. It will not even be a peace that ends the occupation.

But perhaps this new, modest peace will enable us to forge a path through the storm, to manage the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and somewhat abate it. This new peace could provide Israel’s center and left with a new, relevant diplomatic agenda. Now that the old peace is dead, we must quickly replace it with a new, realistic peace.”

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