Efraim Halevy, invited by the Jávea Neighbourhood Forum, especially insisted that his final period in public office was one characterised by his determination to broker a peace agreement with the Palestinians, one that, he insisted, should include the most extremist groups in the negotiation process. “We cannot achieve a favourable situation in the area without the participation of Hamas,” he said, referring to the radical Palestinian organisation, which other important Israeli voices have traditionally sought to steer clear of. “Israel should improve the conditions of its civil society, but should also help their neighbours to improve theirs and make peace possible with them,” he added. According to Halevy, at this moment in the Middle East there are at least two meetings per week being held between high officials from the Israeli and Palestinian sides carrying out this task, although the contents of these negotiations “are secret”. However, with regards to the recent civilian deaths resulting from Israeli attacks, which he deemed regrettable, “they were produced as a result of a defence against previous and ongoing missiles attacks.” According to Halevy, “the day the missiles stop, so will the counterattacks.”

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