Rudd’s push for peace

FOREIGN Minister Kevin Rudd has requested a renewed sense of urgency in resolving the Israel-Palestinian conflict during his trip to the Middle East this week.

Rudd’s call stands in contrast to some members of the Israeli Government, who are promoting a slower, nation-building process for the Palestinians and imploring the world to focus efforts first on Iran, then on the Israel and the Palestinians.

However speaking in Cairo last weekend, Rudd called for the world to “redouble our efforts” towards peace.

“I agree with our friends in Egypt, as do our friends in Jordan and elsewhere, that this is not the time for business as usual or politics as usual,” Rudd said.

Rudd laboured the point at a dinner with the Australia-Israel Leadership Forum at Jerusalem’s King David Hotel on Monday. “Time is beginning to run out,” he said. “What we need is not another peace process but a peace outcome.”

NAOMI LEVIN

Photo: Israeli President Shimon Peres with Kevin Rudd this week. Picture: Naomi Levin

For the full story and full coverage of the AILF mission, buy this week’s AJN – on sale Thursday.