Q.: Mr. Speaker, what can the IPU do to strengthen the dialogue between the members of the Knesset and the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC)?
Reuven Rivlin : We need to have a direct dialogue between us and them. I am not so sure that international intervention can help, because it is up to us and the Palestinians to decide. Every time that international groups are involved, the Palestinians have the feeling that they can press Israel, and it is not very good for the negotiations. Because you cannot press Israel. Israel is ready to make peace from the right to the left, but unfortunately, on the other side the strategy of terror gives them the impression that they can bring Israel to its knees. The European Union, the United Nations and the IPU are trying to bring us to sit down with the Palestinians. We are meeting them. We are living in the same cities, and we can manage to meet. Every effort to bring peace is welcomed by the Israelis. In principle, I believe it would not help, but if it would indeed help, we are ready to participate.

Q.: Do you think that this is the moment for dialogue?
R.R. : In the last one hundred years we thought every morning that the next day we would see peace. And we had Oslo. Now we have a lot of hope, but we are not having any kind of illusions. Illusion is not the name of the game for the Israelis. We had an illusion, the illusion of peace. Peace that comes immediately. Unfortunately, we see that it will take time. Going into any negotiation without illusions brings much more results than going with dreams. I believe that we have to live together. It is our destiny. Less than one kilometre from here, my neighbours are Arabs. Less than one kilometre from here, my neighbours are Palestinians; less than one hundred kilometres away they are Jordanians, less than two hundreds kilometres from here they are Egyptians. We are living together. There is no other way but to live together. But they have to accept Israel. They have to know that we are not seeking peace for now, but peace forever.

	"The IPU can be one of the good referees" The IPU President was also received by the Head of the Opposition, Mr. Tomy Lapid, leader of the Shinui party. For Mr. Lapid, "there is now a glimmer of hope which may lead to a successful way to peace" between Israelis and Palestinians. He said that the two leaders, Ariel Sharon and Mahmoud Abbas, "are taking very great political risks against the extremists in their own ranks, in order to maintain the dialogue. We can only hope that the good people will prevail against the people who are trying to upset and destroy this process". The Shinui party and the Labour party, both members of the opposition, are supporting the disengagement and further steps towards peace "because my party is moderate, centrist and we want peace", explained Mr. Lapid. Asked if there was a new political will for peace, he replied that "the Palestinians are tired of their intifada and they understand that it will lead them nowhere". And the Israelis "do not want to have more bloodshed. Psychologically, the time is right to find a solution. When in a boxing match both opponents are near the end of their tether, then you can call for some peace". In response to the remark that in a boxing match there is a referee, he said that "the IPU can be one of the good referees" between Israelis and Palestinians.

	"With Abu Mazen, we will certainly find a partner" The IPU President also had talks with the Israeli Interior Minister, Mr. Ophir Pines, who has attended several IPU conferences in the past. The Minister saw considerable hope for the dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians. "I think that it is progressive and much better than it used to be. With Abu Mazen, we will certainly find a partner for negotiations and for peace. There has been a great change since the death of Mr. Arafat. It was impossible to negotiate with him. There is progress, still not as good as we want to have, but it is much better than before". The Israeli Interior Minister confirmed that he was still very supportive of the IPU's role of facilitator between members of the Knesset and the PLC. "I miss the IPU and I would like to come again. It is a great organization, because it has the flexibility to talk about all things, without all the formalities. When you are a minister serving a government you have to be very formal. You cannot do and say whatever you want. When you are a member of parliament, it is much easier to create new relations. This is why I miss the IPU and I want to be there again. And I am sure we will find an opportunity". Does he still have contacts with his Palestinian colleagues? "Yes, of course, with the ones who were at the IPU. I meet them here and I keep contact with them. Some of them are doing good politics. Political life is very cruel and dangerous. But we survive".

"Today, we are ready for dialogue"