Top Israeli moderates push for peace now

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- An influential group of around 1,000 top-level reserve generals, colonels and security officials called on the Israeli government Tuesday to get out of Gaza, dismantle 50 Jewish settlements, recognize a Palestinian state, and redeploy troops along a border between Israel and the Palestinians.

The group -- the Council for Peace and Security -- said Israel should immediately enter into peace talks with the Palestinians, but said the withdrawals and redeployments should go forward regardless of whether there is a cease-fire.

The group issued a paper and bought an ad Tuesday in the Jerusalem daily newspaper Ha'aretz to publicize its stand.

The group said recognizing a Palestinian state would force a change of behavior in the Palestinian leadership.

The president of the council, Danny Rothschild, said moderates within the Palestinian leadership have been pushed aside by hard-liners in the streets.

Rothschild said the deciding factor for him was the growing list of Israeli reservists who have signed a letter refusing to serve in the Palestinian territories.

The council has been influential in the past, throwing its weight behind the Oslo accords in the early 1990s.

The proposal is not being presented as a comprehensive solution. It does not address a final settlement for Jerusalem.

Rothschild told Ha'aretz he predicted sentiment for a change would grow if the present conditions continue.

"Four months ago it was clear to me that the movement would grow if we continue calling up reserves to accompany settlers to music lessons and to protect real estate that has nothing to do with ideology," he said.

Rothschild said having troops guard an Israeli-Palestinian border rather than the settlements is the "proper use of force."

Members of the council have met with top Israeli officials, including Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has refused to meet with them.