Who can bring peace? The role of external actors
in the Israeli-Palestinian peace-process

von: Julia Heise

Content

1. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict 3-4

2. Past developments 4-9

2.1. Oslo 4-5
2.2. Camp David 5-6
2.3. Taba 6-7
2.4. Reflection 7-9

3. A chance for final peace? 9-14

3.1. What are the chances for peace? 9-11
3.2. Who plays a key role? 11-14

4. Conclusion 14-17

Bibliography 18-22

The Arab-Israeli conflict, the dominant theme regarding the International Relations of the Middle East, is“(…) one of the most bitter, protracted and intractable conflicts of modern times.” (Shlaim, 2005: 242). At its core lies the Israeli-Palestinian problem, which will be addressed in this essay and which mainly refers to the dispute between the Jewish and Palestinian national movements over Palestine.1 This dispute is multidimensional: “(…) religious, political, cultural, economic and psychological elements pile up and feed each other to create a seemingly indissoluble impasse.” (Korany, 2005: 64). Some attempts have been made in the past to find a peaceful solution for Israelis and Palestinians - but these did not result in the success that was hoped for.

However, by considering several recent developments it appears that new opportunities to end the conflict are within reach. Against this background it becomes necessary to discuss the impact of Israelis, Palestinians and external actors on a possible peace, which will be the purpose of this essay.

The paper first provides an overview about the main issues of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. Section two then reflects on the development of the peace-process in the past and in this context analyses the roles of Israel, Palestine and external actors that were involved. This is essential to be able to draw a profound conclusion regarding the current situation, which is discussed in section three by addressing two questions: A) What are the chances for peace? B) Who plays a major role in this context? The essay concludes by answering the question of whether it is only the conflict-parties and not external actors who could bring peace.

1. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is rooted in the ancient clash between Jews and Palestinian Arabs over the land of Palestine.2 Over time the dispute deteriorated, leading to several violent confrontations.3 The following issues are at stake: Territory: During the 1967-war Israel illegally occupied land 4 and since then has built Jewish settlements, mainly in Gaza and the West Bank. Palestinians demand an Israeli withdrawal and a Palestinian state. Refugees: In the 1948-and 1967-wars huge numbers of Palestinians were forced to flee from the Israeli-occupied areas.5 Palestinians demand a right of return of Palestinian refugees.6 Religion: Both sides have religious claims to the land, especially to the Eastern-part of Jerusalem. 7 Nationalism: Zionist extremists and Palestinian nationalists call for a single Jewish/Palestinian state in all of Palestine.8 Palestinian terror and Israeli repression are part of the dispute.9 The conflict is even more complicated by the internal division, between moderates and extremists, of both camps.10 Finally it has to be noted that the Israeli-Palestinian dispute is also an international issue and thus central to powerful external actors.11

2. Past developments

The following section focuses on the development of the peace-process in the past. It reflects on the Oslo-agreements as well as the Camp David-and Taba-talks and discusses the impact of Israel, Palestine and external actors in this context.

2.1. Oslo

Israel and Palestine started secret bilateral negotiations in Oslo in 199312, which resulted in a historic breakthrough. 13 The Oslo accords consisted of the mutual recognition between Israel and the PLO and the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements, which laid down the Israeli military withdrawal from areas in Gaza and Jericho; the establishment of an internationally recognised Palestinian Self-Government-Authority14; and the commence of negotiations about all outstanding final status issues, resulting in the conclusion of a permanent settlement.15

Although the Declaration did not address the vital issues of the dispute16, the Oslo-accords were revolutionary: For the first time in the Israeli-Palestinian history the two parties had shown a determination to end the conflict. Additionally, the agreement had far-reaching positive consequences for the Arab-Israeli- level of the dispute.17 And finally, the Oslo-accords provided a basis for further steps in the peace-process.18

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1 Shlaim, 2005: 242. However, the conflict is complicated by inter-Arab relations and the involvement of outside powers.

2 Judea was the home of the Jewish people in ancient times. Soon after it had been conquered by the Romans (who renamed it Palestine) and later on by the Arabs, a Zionist movement arose that aimed at the restoration of the Jews to Israel. (http://www.mideastweb.org/history.htm) In 1917 Palestine was granted to Britain as a League of Nations-mandate to build a national home for the Jewish people, which was reinforced by the Holocaust and opposed by the Arabs. Thus the United Nations decided to partition Palestine into an Arab and a Jewish state in 1947 (articulated in the UN General Assembly Resolution 181- the UN Partition Plan for Palestine) but Palestinian Arabs did not accept this and war broke out in 1948. See Smith (2005: 217/218), Bunton (2003), Hajjar, Rabbani, Beinin (1989: 101), Isseroff, w.y. and Rogan (2005:36-37).

3 War between Israelis and Palestinians broke out in 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973 and 1982. In 1948 the victorious Jews expanded their land and declared the state of Israel but Palestinians refused to recognise Israel. Shlaim (1987; 1990; 1998), Khalidi (2001).

4 Israel occupied Gaza, the Sinai Peninsula, the West Bank and the Golan Heights. East Jerusalem was annexed to Israel.

5 Smith, 2005: 225. Many refugees live in poor conditions in crowded refugee camps in the West Bank and Gaza as well as in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. The number of Palestinian refugees has amounted to circa 4 million people.

6 Palestinians base their demands on the UN- Resolution 194. However, if the refugees would be allowed to return to Israel this would create an Arab-majority and mean the end of Israel as a Jewish state. Thus Israelis oppose this demand.

7 Jews have their religious roots in Israel/Judea. Jerusalem was the ancient capital of Judea and the site of the Jewish holy temple. On the other hand, Jerusalem is also the site of the Muslim Al-Aqsa Mosque. See Don-Yehiya (1984).

8 Zionists view a single Jewish state under Israeli rule as fulfilment of ancient Jewish rights and only solution to anti-Semitism. Arab-Palestinian nationalism includes extremists such as Hamas. Nimni (2003) and Nusseibeh (1992).

9 Almost all Palestinian extremist groups were founded with the declared aim of destroying Israel by violence Only the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) renounced this aim officially. However, it is important to point out that Palestinian terror was mainly a reaction to the Israeli occupation and even more importantly to Israeli-settlement activity. Sayigh (1997), Lustick (1993), Robinson (1997: 47), Stein (2005), Frisch (1998: 93-108) and http://mideastweb.org/peaceplans.htm.

10 Moderates favour historic compromise and a two-state solution. Extremists are influenced by the nationalist ideologies. Moderates on the Israeli side are represent d by the left-wing Labour party and Israeli Revisionism is embodied by the right-wing Likud-Party. Moderates on the Palestinian side include Yasser Arafat’s Fatah-Party and also the PLO (Arafat was head of the PLO from 1969 onwards). Hamas and Islamic Jihad in contrast represent Palestinian extremist groups. See Dannreuther (2005).

11The US have always been a supporter of the Israelis but also play the role of a mediator in the peace-process. Yet, the EU, UN, Russia and several Arab states are also involved. (Binder, 1958 and Hudson, 2005: 289).

12 The US initiated an international conference in Madrid in October 1991, to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict within the larger framework of the Arab-Israeli dispute. Negotiations were based on UN Resolution 242 (it articulates the principle of exchange of occupied land in return for peace and demands the Israeli withdrawal of territory occupied in the 1967-war) and excluded the PLO since PLO-leader Arafat had supported Saddam Hussein in the Gulf War 1990/91. (Smith, 2005: 26). As the subsequent bilateral talks in Washington led nowhere, Israel and Palestine used a back channel-Oslo. (u.a., 12 February 2005). 13 The decision of the head of the labour-party Rabin, Shimon Peres and Yossi Beilin to directly negotiate with the PLO was a diplomatic revolution. The secret talks started in January 1993 and were held over an 8-month period. (Shlaim, 2005: 244).

14 The Palestinian Authority was established in 1994. Direct elections to the Assembly, the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), were held in 1996 and Arafat was elected President. The President is elected for a 5-year term and appoints and heads the Palestinian Authority-cabinet that is responsible for the Legislature.

15 These negotiations would end within 5 years with a permanent settlement based on UN-resolutions 242 and 338.

16 Vital issues were the shape of a permanent settlement, the refugee’s right of return, a Palestinian state, the status of Jerusalem and the Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank/ Gaza. It separated the interim from the final settlement. (Tessler, 1994: 756).

17 For example a peace-treaty between Israel and Jordan was signed in 1994. (http://mideastweb.org/meoslodop.htm)

18 Three agreements on the power-transfer to Palestine and Israeli withdrawal were signed in 1994. (Shlaim, 2005). In September 1995 the Oslo II-Interim Agreement on the West Bank and Gaza, which terminated the first stage of the negotiations, was signed.