As its authors, self-proclaimed moderates from both sides of Palestinian-Israeli divide, launched the plan at a ceremony in Geneva, senior figures around the globe called it a ray of hope in one of the most intractable international conflicts.

"The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has taken far too great a toll already. Both peoples have paid dearly in lives and livelihood in a war which both are losing," declared a statement from 58 former presidents, prime ministers and UN officials.

Hailed at the two-hour ceremony by former US President Jimmy Carter as offering an end to bloodshed, the plan also won messages of support from King Hassan III of Morocco, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and Bill Clinton, US president from 1993 to 2001.

Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey dubbed it "a little light in the darkness."