By Jason Koutsoukis
JERUSALEM: A former chief of Israeli intelligence, Meir Dagan, has urged political leaders to embrace the so-called Saudi peace initiative under which Israel would withdraw to its 1967 borders and give East Jerusalem back to the Palestinians.
In a forthright contradiction of the position of the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, that a withdrawal to 1967 borders posed an unacceptable security risk, Mr Dagan said Israel ''must present an initiative to the Palestinians''.
Dispute ... Jerusalem would be part of the peace plan.
''We must adopt the Saudi initiative,'' Mr Dagan said.
''We have no other way, and not because [the Palestinians] are my top priority, but because I am concerned about Israel's wellbeing and I want to do what I can to ensure Israel's existence.
''If we don't make proposals and if we don't take the initiative, we will eventually find ourselves in a corner.''
The Saudi peace initiative, also known as the Arab peace initiative, was first proposed in 2002 and also calls for a ''just'' solution to the Palestinian refugee crisis.
In return, the world's Arab and Muslim states would sign a peace agreement with Israel and establish normal relations with it within the framework of a comprehensive peace.
Mr Dagan, who was the director of the Mossad, Israel's national intelligence agency, said it was in Israel's interest to ''put the ball in [the Palestinians'] court''.
''Let them have the dilemma. Since 1994 [shortly after the Oslo agreements], every time that Israel has taken the initiative it has created a good situation for us,'' Mr Dagan said.
''Today's leadership does not connect with responsibility. But leadership has a deep connection with responsibility.
''Recently the leadership has failed to put forth a vision, and I am not speaking only about the current government. It is important for leaders to set goals.
''Wisdom and good decisions have nothing to do with the fact that you were elected.''
Mr Dagan also signalled another point of difference with Mr Netanyahu over the recent reconciliation agreement between the rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas, which Mr Netanyahu says prohibits negotiations with the Palestinians because Hamas refuses to recognise Israel's right to exist.
Describing the reconciliation as problematic, Mr Dagan urged a wait-and-see approach.
''We will have to wait and watch things develop [between Fatah and Hamas].
''I don't think this is an historic alliance. Hamas has still not allowed Abu Mazen [the Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas] to come to Gaza.''
With rumours swirling yesterday that a deal had been reached with Hamas to release the captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, Mr Dagan said opposed bringing Mr Shalit home at ''any price''.
''The price is a blood price, and it is not easy.''