Key Facts
• November 4, 2025: Pugwash Conference held in Hiroshima, Japan.
• Former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert and former Palestinian FM Nasser Al-Kidwa participated.
• Both leaders emphasized the need to overcome trauma for peace.
• Advocated for a two-state solution as the only viable resolution.
• Olmert: “Middle East’s future must not be tied to painful memories.”
• Al-Kidwa: “Patience and effort can lead to peace despite current revenge-driven sentiments.”
• Olmert served as Israeli PM from 2006–2009.
• Al-Kidwa was Palestinian UN representative and FM from 2005–2006.
Summary
At the Pugwash Conference in Hiroshima, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and former Palestinian Foreign Minister Nasser Al-Kidwa called for renewed efforts toward peace between Israel and Palestine. Both leaders stressed the importance of overcoming historical trauma and emphasized that a two-state solution remains the only viable path forward. Olmert highlighted the need to avoid anchoring the Middle East’s future to painful memories, while Al-Kidwa acknowledged the current lack of momentum for peace but expressed hope for positive change after the end of conflict. Their joint appearance in Hiroshima, a city symbolizing the devastation of war, underscored the urgency of dialogue and reconciliation.
