This week marks the 40th anniversary of the end of the Six-Day War, when Israel successfully defended itself against the existential threat of a combined Arab attack. This changed the face of the Middle East significantly, providing Israel with a sense of permanency in the region and opening the possibility for peace.

After the war, Israeli Foreign Minister Abba Eban held out his hand in peace to the Arab world and said, “We are prepared to be unbelievably generous in working out peace terms; everything is negotiable.” Unfortunately, the Israeli olive branch of peace was met with an uncompromising Arab rejection.

Forty years have passed since that monumental event in 1967, 40 years of bloodshed and missed opportunities. Peace between Israelis and Palestinians – and the Arab states in general – remains an elusive dream.

Today, it is disheartening to see protests of the anniversary of this war happening around the world, including here in Denver. Palestinian supporters lament the war’s results and advocate for an “end to the occupation.” But at the conclusion of the Six-Day War, Israel immediately offered to exchange the land for peace. The Arab nations at the time united to declare: no recognition of Israel, no negotiations, no peace.

Last September, I visited Israel shortly after the cease-fire with Hezbollah. I spoke with many Israelis to get their view about the ongoing violence.

Former Denver residents Don and Ellie Saliman live near Gaza. They have witnessed many rockets falling into their community in the last three years. When Israel turned over the Gaza Strip to the Palestinians in another peace attempt, Don reported, “It just enabled them [the Palestinians] to shoot their rockets further than they used to do.”

Laya Jackson and her family moved to Tzfat, Israel, from Denver 10 years ago. They had to stay in a bomb shelter, along with 15 neighborhood children, for nearly 30 days. The shelter was a small, concrete room no larger than a storage unit.

Parents told me heartbreaking stories about how little boys tried to be strong and little girls cried. Yet, once again, the tragic circumstances did not break the families I met in northern Israel. They planned to remain in their homes and continue with life as normal.

Israelis are peaceful people who want to live happy lives, who want their children to be safe and have opportunities. They are not the angry war-mongers that many try to portray.

Palestinian supporters cry “end the occupation.” But they overlook the fact that Israel has withdrawn from Gaza, and that the Palestinians squandered the opportunity to govern themselves and build a better future when they elected a known terrorist organization as their leader. The Palestinians free of “occupation” have devolved into sectarian violence and are on the verge of civil war between Islamic groups, tribal clans, and secularist forces.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has stated his willingness to negotiate with Hamas, as long as the group renounces violence, accepts previous agreements signed between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and recognizes Israel’s right to exist. Israelis have come to realize that there are no short-cuts to a two-state solution, and that only honest negotiations, based on mutual recognition, will lead to peace.

Peace and normalcy between Israel and the Arab world is indeed attainable. In 1977, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat extended the first olive branch from the Arab world. He traveled to Jerusalem and, in an address to the Knesset, delivered the following words: “We used to reject you. We had our reasons and our fears, yes … . As we really and truly seek peace, we really and truly welcome you to live among us in peace and security.” Two years later, Israel and Egypt signed a peace treaty where Israel ceded the Sinai in exchange for peace.

As we commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Six-Day War, let us hope that the Palestinians, Syrians and other parties will soon take this crucial first step and publicly accept Israel so that further opportunities toward a just and lasting peace will not be missed.

Chad Asarch is co-chair of the Israel, National and Overseas Center of the Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado.