Century Plan Offers Better Future for Palestinians • Refusal to compromise has led Israel to grow and prosper while left behind • President Jason Greenblatt, President Trump's former envoy to the Middle East, and Bishara Bahbah, a former member of the Palestinian peace talks team, with a special call for the Palestinian leadership

The Palestinian leadership faces a difficult and fateful decision. Due to the unfortunate timing in which the PA decided to cut off its relationship with the Trump administration, and against the backdrop of public statements by Palestinian officials, no one would be surprised if the PA's first response was a rejection of the plan - even without its call. Our hope is that the Palestinians will understand that it is worth counting to 10 before responding officially. We propose six reasons why the Palestinian leadership should review the program, study it - and then introduce realistic and realistic amendments. The plan is an invitation for both parties for serious discussion.

Build on the positive elements: As soon as the Palestinians get a chance to examine the peace plan, they can build on the positive elements within it, offer the reservations to the non-tasting sections, and make realistic and applicable proposals, and then, through diligence and diplomacy, achieve real progress.

Learn from history: Time and evasion have so far been the worst enemies of the Palestinians. Israel grew and prospered, while the Palestinians remained behind. The Palestinians can continue to wait for a better agreement, but chances are they will wait in vain. The time has come to negotiate in good faith to give the next generation of Palestinians a promising future. The Palestinian leadership should be pragmatic.

PM Netanyahu Before Departing for Washington // Photo: Ariel Kahana

Don't worry about President Trump not being re-elected: If the Palestinian leadership hopes that this year will be Trump's last year in office, it will probably be sorely disappointed. If the Palestinian leadership continues to not work with the Trump administration, the next five years will be with zero or little progress for them. Is that what they wish for their children?

What about the two-state solution? Regardless of whether the Palestinian entity that is established, whether it is demilitarized or not, is no doubt that a program that gives Palestinians and Israelis peace of mind, security and peace is the most important thing for both parties.

Issues and Concerns: Once they reach the negotiating table, the Palestinians will be able to present them in good faith. Nobody is preventing them from doing so. Can they implement what they ask for? This is a separate question. But if they do not reach the table, they will again miss an opportunity to find out what is possible. It's time to get hold of the dream, not smash it on the rocks.

Economic Prosperity: One of the main objections of the Bahrain Economic Conference was that the economic part of the plan was presented before the political part. But now that it is published, the Palestinians can understand the huge benefits that a signed agreement will bring for them. Within a decade the Palestinians will be able to become an economic success against the whole world.

If these reasons are not enough to convince the Palestinian leadership to be involved in the peace plan, what is the alternative: the current status quo and perhaps even worse. Is that really what they want? The Palestinians have a lot to lose if they reject the proposed plan. It is time to seize the historic opportunity, despite all the flaws people might find, to find out if peace can finally be achieved.

We are both friends who do not see eye to eye regarding the conflict, and each of us would formulate differently. But we decided to write together on the basis of our consents, because that is how peace is made.

Jason D. Greenblatt was the special envoy for international negotiations in the Trump administration.