A Realistic U.S. Role in the Arab-Israeli Conflict

{
  "authors": [
    "Shlomo Avineri"
  ],
  "type": "other",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
  ],
  "collections": [],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
  "programAffiliation": "",
  "programs": [],
  "projects": [],
  "regions": [
    "Caucasus",
    "Russia"
  ],
  "topics": []
}

Other

A Realistic U.S. Role in the Arab-Israeli Conflict

By Mr. Shlomo Avineri

Published on Dec 3, 2001

Source: Carnegie

Audio

Avineri: Negotiations are now impossible

What are the obstacles to unilateral disengagement?

Summary

In the post-September 11 context, Israelis hope that the United States-now a victim of massive domestic terrorism-will have more sympathy for them. On the other side, Palestinians hope that the United States will revive peace talks, and thus solidify Arab support for the war on terrorism.

Despite these high expectations, the United States should proceed cautiously, considering the history of its peace-making initiatives. It has effectively assisted contending parties that have already reached a basic agreement (as at Camp David in 1978 or after the 1993 Oslo accords) and intervened to stave off full-scale crises and encourage stabilizing steps (as during the 1973 Yom Kippur War). But most other U.S. efforts have failed because the countries in conflict have lacked the political will. To prepare both sides for negotiations, U.S. policy should shift from conflict resolution to conflict management. Possible steps include demanding that Palestinians educate their people for peace, encouraging Saudi Arabia to organize an Arab solidarity fund for Palestine, and supporting Israel's unilateral disengagement to ease current tensions.

Click on link above for the full text of this Policy Brief.

About the Author

Mr. Shlomo Avineri

Former Visiting Scholar

Recent Work

Report
Israel-Russia Relations
- Mr. Shlomo Avineri

Caucasus Russia

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 Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Commentary
Carnegie Politika
Stalled at the Front, Russia Seeks to Undermine Ukraine’s Economic Capacity
Russian strikes are weakening the economy sustaining Ukraine’s war effort. Closing the growing funding gap will require more European support and politically contentious reforms in Kyiv.
Balázs Jarábik
Book
The Scramble for Europe. Russia, China, and Turkey Challenging Regional Order
Europe is facing rising populism internally as well as external pressures from Russia, China, Turkey, and the United States.
Dimitar Bechev
Commentary
Carnegie Politika
Russian Indoctrination in Occupied Ukrainian Schools Is a Sham
Despite a new textbook, an influx of Russian teachers and managers, and an end to the teaching of Ukrainian, the Kremlin is unlikely to have “reprogrammed” locals.
Konstantin Skorkin
Commentary
Carnegie Politika
Who Is Funding Russia’s War in the 2027 Budget?
For every ruble allocated to social policy, health, and education in 2027, double that amount is earmarked for the army, the police, and the security services.
Alexandra Prokopenko
Commentary
Emissary
The U.S. Has Weapons in Space. Now What?
The acknowledgment has sparked fears of a new arms race with China and Russia.
Chris O’Meara

More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

Stalled at the Front, Russia Seeks to Undermine Ukraine’s Economic Capacity

Russian strikes are weakening the economy sustaining Ukraine’s war effort. Closing the growing funding gap will require more European support and politically contentious reforms in Kyiv.

Balázs Jarábik

Book

The Scramble for Europe. Russia, China, and Turkey Challenging Regional Order

Europe is facing rising populism internally as well as external pressures from Russia, China, Turkey, and the United States.

Dimitar Bechev

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

Russian Indoctrination in Occupied Ukrainian Schools Is a Sham

Despite a new textbook, an influx of Russian teachers and managers, and an end to the teaching of Ukrainian, the Kremlin is unlikely to have “reprogrammed” locals.

Konstantin Skorkin

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

Who Is Funding Russia’s War in the 2027 Budget?

For every ruble allocated to social policy, health, and education in 2027, double that amount is earmarked for the army, the police, and the security services.

Alexandra Prokopenko

Commentary

Emissary

The U.S. Has Weapons in Space. Now What?

The acknowledgment has sparked fears of a new arms race with China and Russia.

Chris O’Meara