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Gregory Khalil spoke optimistically about the possibilities of peace in Jerusalem, stressing the importance of dealing with realities, not assumptions. He detailed recent developments in the city regarding a failure to reopen Palestinian organizations and a continuation of settlement construction. However, he did note that a viable and sustainable peace is obtainable in Jerusalem.

Khalil emphasized that Jerusalem is actually two separate cities — East and West — which would allow for an easy division. According to Khalil, control over Jerusalem is a high priority for both groups, but simply dividing or sharing the city does not take into account the physical and geographic realities of Jerusalem. He described how the Jerusalem with a Palestinian majority is defined as the lands of East Jerusalem and the Old City, which, together with Ramallah to the north and Bethlehem to the south, constitute a major metropolitan sprawl of the West Bank. Khalil said that 30-40% of economic activity in the Palestinian Territories — the West Bank and Gaza Strip included — is generated in the East. However, he asserted that current settlement building by Israelis could sever economic ties with the rest of the West Bank. Khalil concluded by stressing that a Palestinian state must be economically self-sufficient and the key to achieving sustainability is to ensure that East Jerusalem remains a hub — both economically and politically — for the Palestinian people.

Danny Seidemann brought up a similar opinion regarding the two Jerusalems. He explained that there already is essentially an undisputed boundary between the two cities, with the populations disputing a very small, yet important area. Seidemann said that internationalization of the Old City is most often cited, but it is not practical and that both sides desire the Old City too much for a lasting peace to occur under the current regime. Seidemann stressed that a political division must occur within this part of Jerusalem in order to obtain peace.

With the momentum of the Annapolis Conference subsiding considerably, Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem have continued. These settlements, he explained, contribute to Palestinian distrust about the credibility of the peace process. Seidemann also cited the determination of these settlers to displace Palestinians in an effort to derail the peace process with the ultimate goal of taking control of Al-Haram ash-Sharif, or to Jews, the Temple Mount.

Seidemann discussed the conflict as being primarily political but suggested that it could incite a religious fervor and violence. However, he believed this outcome could be easily avoided if responsible governments take action to try and bring about peace in Jerusalem. According to Seidemann, the ascent of a new American administration would enable the US relationship with the Arab world to be reevaluated. Seidemann concluded by refuting the assumption that three faiths cannot live together harmoniously in Jerusalem. According to Seidemann, coexistence happens every day and has happened every day for 1,300 years. He stressed that two states — two Jerusalems in accordance with international law — is attainable, with both Israel and Palestine centering the governments, their people, and their cultures in their own idea of Jerusalem.