It's Israel's turn to stretch out its arm

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This is all too familiar. There have been too many false starts, too many processes that stumble on mistrust and short-term calculations. The impact is clear. Most Israelis – and Palestinians – badly want peace, and an end to a conflict that has claimed too many lives, cost too much money, caused too much pain. Yet few are optimistic that such a peace can happen.

The road to peace is never an easy one. It is invariably frustrating and slow, it involves painful compromises, and it needs trust between parties who do not trust each other. At times, it feels hopeless, particularly when extremists use violence to wreck the process. It was the same in Great Britain with the Northern Ireland peace process. For so long it looked impossible. But just last week, the Queen hosted a state dinner for the president of Ireland to which she invited a former member of the IRA. This would have been absolutely unthinkable a few years ago. Sometimes in order to reach the prize of peace, you have to imagine what it looks like.

This was the central message that British Prime Minister David Cameron brought with him on his recent visit to Israel: A positive vision of Israel’s future. Cameron made clear that he did not come to lecture Israelis how best to make peace with the Palestinians. Instead, he asked Israel to imagine what Israel would be like if peace based on two states was actually achieved; the benefits it could deliver for Israel’s security, her place in the world and her prosperity. Amid the difficulties of the current process, it is a vision worth hanging on to.

First, imagine a peace that fundamentally supported Israel’s security situation. A secure Israel living at peace with a strong, moderate Palestinian state that recognizes Israel’s right to exist, working in partnership with Israel to prevent terrorism, weapons smuggling and the threats from militant groups. A situation where both Israel and a Palestinian state had a shared interest in securing the peace through co-operation and partnership. Each generation of Israeli parents hopes they will be the last to have to send their children to military service; imagine if one day that hope was realized.

Second, imagine a peace that would secure Israel’s place in the world. Those calling for boycotts of Israel would be shown up as armature politicians on the fringe, who no longer found wind in their sails. Authoritarian regimes who seek to use the UN to lecture Israel on its human rights would find themselves increasingly isolated. A peace deal would open up new relationships to Israel’s deep and lasting benefit - the resolution of the conflict would allow Israel to create genuine alliances with many countries in the region, with whom Israel shares vital security interests.

Third, imagine what peace would mean for Israel’s prosperity. Peace would allow Israeli business to trade throughout the region, creating a powerful partnership of Israeli ingenuity, access to regional markets and regional capital. Imagine all those start-ups and innovation that have made Israel so famous, reaping new business in the powerful markets of the Gulf. Imagine the Israeli economy unfettered by conflict.

We are at the end of Pesach, celebrating the delivery of the Jewish people from oppression at the hands of the Pharaohs. The Jewish people have known conflict and oppression for thousands of years. Nothing has ever come easy to the Jewish people. This time, the outstretched arm will have to be Israel's own. But for a people that has always known how to dream, the dream of peace has held a special place. The creation of the State of Israel held out the hope that the Jewish people might know lasting freedom, peace and security. This time, let us not lose sight of the dream.