Yossi Beilin, Yasser Abd Rabbo

As the cycle of violence intensifies, prospects for a negotiated settlement between Israel and the Palestinians seem to be fading. Amid violations of cease-fires, the assassination of an Israeli cabinet minister, and targeted killings, the challenge remains for both sides to end the violence and return to the negotiating table. To discuss the potential for resuming peace talks, the Brookings-Sadat Forum presented a Policy Forum with former Israeli Minister of Justice Yossi Beilin and Palestinian Authority Minister of Information and Culture Yasser Abd Rabbo.

Yossi Beilin, was one of the key architects of the Oslo Accords and a member of the Israeli negotiating team in Taba in January 2001. Dr. Beilin, author of several books, currently heads the Economic Cooperation Foundation, a nonprofit organization aimed at promoting Arab-Israeli cooperation.

Yasser Abd Rabbo is a senior adviser to Yasser Arafat as well as a key participant in ongoing negotiations. Mr. Abd Rabbo has extensive experience in dialogue with Israel, starting in 1991 as a delegate to the Madrid Peace Conference and later in final status negotiations when he led the Palestinian delegation.

Americans for Peace Now is sponsoring a tour of the United States by Yossi Beilin and Yasser Abd Rabbo. The organization’s mission is to enhance Israel’s security through peace and to support the Israeli Peace Now movement.