The Israeli–Palestinian peace process requires functioning Palestinian politics

{
  "authors": [],
  "type": "pressRelease",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
    "Carnegie Europe"
  ],
  "collections": [],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "menaTransitions",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
  "programAffiliation": "MEP",
  "programs": [
    "Middle East"
  ],
  "projects": [],
  "regions": [
    "United States",
    "Middle East",
    "Israel",
    "Palestine",
    "North America"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Foreign Policy"
  ]
}

Press Release

The Israeli–Palestinian peace process requires functioning Palestinian politics

It is clear that a two-state solution requires reconciliation between Palestinian factions and reunification of the West Bank and Gaza. The United States should support Palestinian institution building and be open to political competition, including elections.

Published on Jun 7, 2010

WASHINGTON, June 7—The Israeli raid on the flotilla of humanitarian aid headed for Gaza dealt a blow to chances for a breakthrough in the peace process. As the U.S. administration struggles to keep indirect talks alive, Michele Dunne prescribes a different approach. It is clear that a two-state solution requires reconciliation between Palestinian factions and reunification of the West Bank and Gaza. Dunne recommends that the United States should support Palestinian institution building and be open to political competition, including elections.

Recommendations for the United States

Build lasting Palestinian institutions as Israeli–Palestinian negotiations proceed. The United States should move beyond a short-term perspective that pushes for a deal between Israel and the Palestinians while blocking the emergence of functioning and representative Palestinian institutions.

Signal openness to Palestinian reconciliation. The rift between Fatah and Hamas paralyzes politics and hurdles to reconciliation should be removed. While this does not mean the United States should directly engage Hamas, the organization cannot be starved out of existence or political relevance—as has been made clear over the last three years.

Support the resumption of politics. The United States should stop constraining or manipulating Palestinian politics and support inclusive legislative and presidential elections. As long as Palestinian leaders are ready to negotiate with Israel and prevent violence, the United States should look for ways to continue cooperation with and assistance to a Palestinian Authority, even one that includes Hamas.

“By allowing political competition in the Palestinian territories, the United States can help lay the groundwork necessary for a lasting peace settlement,” writes Dunne. “And Israel can have faith that a Palestinian negotiating partner possesses enough popular support to make agreements and uphold them.”

###

NOTES

Michele Dunne is a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment and editor of the Arab Reform Bulletin. She is a former specialist on Middle East affairs for the U.S. Department of State and White House.

The Carnegie Middle East Program combines in-depth local knowledge with incisive comparative analysis to examine economic, socio-political, and strategic interests in the Arab world to provide analysis and recommendations in both English and Arabic that are deeply informed by knowledge and views from the region.

The Carnegie Middle East Center based in Beirut, Lebanon, aims to better inform the process of political change in the Middle East.

Carnegie's Arab Reform Bulletin analyzes political reform in the Middle East.

Press Contact: David Kampf, 202/939-2233, pressoffice@ceip.org

Foreign Policy United States Middle East Israel Palestine North America

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center

Commentary
Diwan
The United States and Iran Have Agreed to a Two-Week Ceasefire
Spot analysis from Carnegie scholars on events relating to the Middle East and North Africa.
Michael Young
Commentary
Diwan
Hezbollah’s Wartime Strategy
The party’s objectives involve tying together the Lebanese and Iranian fronts, while surviving militarily and politically at home.
Mohamad Fawaz
Commentary
Diwan
A Mission for Lebanon’s Army
While armed forces commander Rudolph Haykal’s caution is understandable, he is in a position to act, and must.
Michael Young
Commentary
Diwan
Iran Rewrites Its War Strategy
In an interview, Hamidreza Azizi discusses how Tehran has adapted in real time to the conflict with the United States and Israel.
Michael Young
Commentary
Diwan
Trump’s Plan for Gaza Is Not Irrelevant. It’s Worse.
The simple conclusion is that the scheme will bring neither peace nor prosperity, but will institutionalize devastation.
Nathan J. Brown

More Work from Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center