The Geneva Initiative is a detailed proposal for a final and global agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. The agreement, developed with Switzerland's support by members of the Israeli and Palestinian civil societies, proposes pragmatic and workable solutions to all the issues that stand between the two parties. It was presented in Geneva in December 2003 under the auspices of the Swiss Confederation. The model proposed by the Geneva Initiative remains a benchmark in the search for a mutually agreed two-state solution.

The main points of the model proposed by the Geneva Initiative are:

• internationally recognised borders based on the 1967 lines, with mutually agreed upon land-swaps on a 1:1 basis
• the mutual recognition of Israel's and the Palestinians' right to separate States
• reciprocal cooperation on security-related matters
• international recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of the two States
• a comprehensive settlement of the refugee problem
• an end to the conflict and to claims by both sides

Initiated by members of the Camp David (in July 2000) and Taba (January 2001) negotiating teams, and subsequently presented on 1 December 2003, the Geneva Initiative seeks to forge a broad alliance of influential Israeli and Palestinian personalities.

On the Israeli side, former senior security officials and representatives of all major Israeli political parties have joined the initiative. On the Palestinian side, senior representatives of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Fatah, as well as parliamentarians and leading academics, have lent their support to the initiative.

Since it was presented, the Geneva Initiative has become a benchmark in the search for an agreed two-state solution. It is also a concrete illustration of the internationally accepted parameters, including the Arab Peace Initiative. In addition, it has provided a clearer outline of what the two parties can expect from a negotiated and credible peace agreement.