It's really about the children. It should always be about the children.
In 2003, before politics, I visited a High School in Tel Aviv where the students were building a "Cubesat", a very small scientific satellite to launch into space. I spoke to them about my astronaut experience. These kids were bright. Their eyes had fire in them and I was tremendously impressed with what they were doing. I felt then as I do now that those young Israelis deserve a safe and peaceful country for their dreams.
Last week, I returned to Israel and The West Bank. I met government officials in both locations. Let me speak plainly. I did not sense much optimism from either side; both sides blamed the other for the current impasse in the US-brokered peace talks.
Having said that, there was one new development underway on the Palestinian side: negotiations with Hamas to unify Palestinians under one government. I remember two Israeli Ministers telling me in 2009 on a visit to the Knesset that the principal obstacle in seeking a two-state solution was that Israel could not sit at the negotiation table until it was dealing with a Palestinian negotiator that truly represented ALL Palestinians. A valid point.
But what if Palestinians did manage to unify under one government and speak with one voice? Would that be enough to rekindle serious negotiations between both sides? No it wouldn't.
There are other major changes required before that stage is reached. Hamas must renounce all violence against Israel -- that means no more rockets or suicide bombers. Peace will have to break out in a sustained manner. Hamas will also have to formally recognize the right of the State of Israel to exist, and it must abide by previous negotiations.
We are nowhere near that at this time. However, a first small step is being taken: an initiative that could make serious negotiations more likely to occur in the future.
And if that came to pass, Israel would certainly have to recognize that it must stop building settlements in occupied territory if the quest for peace is to be realized.
And then perhaps, the serious negotiations could take place in a more constructive climate. There are of course some very difficult long-standing issues for both sides (and no one else) to resolve such as: final borders and security, the right of return, and the recognition that Israel is a Jewish State. Yes, these are significant challenges to negotiate but being at the table is always better than not being at the table.
Two weeks ago, I spoke to Palestinian children at Mohamed Ben Rachid School in Ramallah. I spoke about my astronaut experience and their eyes burned brightly. Those kids were sharp. They were still young enough to dream. It's about the children. It should always be about the children. Those Palestinian children, like Israeli children deserve a safe and peaceful country for their dreams.
Marc Garneau is the Member of Parliament for Westmount--Ville-Marie and the Foreign Affairs Critic for the Liberal Party of Canada
MORE ON HUFFPOST:
