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Bauer said recognizing Palestine within 1967 borders will be the "realization of genuine Jewish nationalism that exists in peace in the region, and within the international community."
Hebrew University Professor Yaron Ezrahi, another signer, said Passover week was chosen, commemorating Jewish liberation, because "(w)e don't want to pass over the Palestinian people. This is a holiday of freedom and independence," what Palestinians and all others deserve.
Another group called the Israeli Peace Initiative, representing dozens of prominent Israelis, issued an early April document endorsing an independent Palestine in nearly the entire West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, with swap agreements not exceeding 7% of the Territories.
Jerusalem's Jewish neighborhoods, the Western Wall, and Old City Jewish Quarter would remain in Israel, Arab ones in Palestine, and the Temple Mount (for Muslims the Noble Sanctuary) would be international.
It also endorses Israeli withdrawal from Golan, establishing new regional security mechanisms and economic cooperation projects, and the right of return (or financial compensation in lieu thereof) for diaspora Palestinians to Palestine, not Israel, with "mutually agreed-upon symbolic exceptions" allowed.
Endorsers include former Mossad head Danny Yatom, saying:
"We looked around at what was happening in neighboring countries and we said to ourselves, 'It is about time that the Israeli public raised its voice as well.' We feel this initiative can bring along many members of the public, (and) want to signal to moderate Palestinians and Syrians that there is a new horizon and light at the end of the tunnel."
Former Shin Bet head, Yaakov Perry, another endorser, added:
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