US President Barack Obama organised a summit meeting between himself, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in New York on September 22, 2009.

Former Israeli United Nations envoy Dan Gillerman speaks at the United Israel Appeal function in Sydney on March 2

LEXI LANDSMAN

ISRAEL has a rare chance to create peace with its Arab neighbours, according to former Israeli United Nations envoy Dan Gillerman. This follows recent developments including a new government being formed in Israel, a new United States administration and new European leaders. Gillerman made an impassioned “pledge of optimism” speech to 1400 people at the United Israel Appeal (UIA) NSW campaign 2009 event at Randwick Racecourse on March 2.

“The reality of the Arab and Muslim world is that it is now or never, giving us a once-in-a-lifetime chance to settle this issue and have the possibility of not just a two-state solution, but possibly a 23-state solution, which will bring peace between Israel and all the Arab world,” he said. Read the full story