Paterson Mayor Sayegh, Assemblyman Schaer react to pending ceasefire deal in Middle East
PATERSON, New Jersey (WABC) -- Members of the Palestinian and Jewish communities who live in the Tri-State area are reacting to the pending ceasefire deal in the Middle East, including politicians in New Jersey, with backgrounds on opposite sides of the conflict.
Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh shared a picture with Eyewitness News.
It was exactly one year ago that he and his wife Farhanna, planted an olive tree in the West Bank... a symbol of peace.
Eyewitness News asked him about what could be the first steps towards peace, with the new agreement.
"A ceasefire is a solution but it's not the permanent solution," Sayegh said. "The permanent solution is for peace and security in the region for Palestinians, for Israelis."
Assemblyman Gary Schaer lives in Passaic. He has represented the very diverse District 36 in Trenton for two decades. He's both hopeful and skeptical about the processes now happening overseas.
"It's frightening. After so long a period of time with active warfare going on, to think that we might have a chance at peace is magnificent, breathtaking, but we've been here before," Schaer said.
The two local leaders have backgrounds on either side of the conflict, but each of them are on the side of peace that would be lasting, forever. They both say that goes way beyond the surface.
"Now is the time to not only make that ceasefire materialize but go behind closed doors, lock the door, and don't come out until you have a permanent solution," Sayegh said. "Palestinians have rights like everybody else, and they should have an independent state like everybody else."
"The moderate forces have to win. The moderate forces which recognize your humanity, as your humanity recognizes my humanity," Schaer said. "It is going to be difficult."
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