Main Actors in the Conflict
- MAJOR ACTORS: Israeli government (Benjamin Netanyahu) and Palestinian Liberation Organization (Mahmoud Abbas)
- Palestinian Government: split into two separate entities (Palestinian Arabs)
- Palestinian Unity Government (also known as the Palestinian Authority)
- HAMAS Government (de facto rule)
- Arab League
- Egypt (one of the primary founders of the Arab League)
- Quartet on the Middle East (comprised of United States, Russia, European Union, and the United Nations). These groups attempt to mediate the conflict.
Interests, Goals, Positions, Capacities and Relationships in the Conflict
Primary Issue: Each group is essentially fighting over control of specific tracts of land. The conflict is rooted in the land located on the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Lebanon and Israel. However, there are other issues that have also contributed significantly to the conflict.
- Contributing Issues and Factors: freedom of movement, regulation of water resources, "right of return" for Palestinians, cultural/social tensions, deeply rooted history/emotions, scepticism/distrust, nationalist movements (Zionism).
- Moreover, the relationships between the different actors are extremely complex. The POL was once considered a terrorist organization by the United States. However, after the POL gained the support of many Palestinians, Israel and United States had to adjust their position. At the Madrid Conference in 1991, the Palestine Liberation Organization agreed to accept Israel's "right to exist" and adopted the various codes of the United Nations. As a result, Israel accepted the notion that the PLO acted as a representative of the Palestinian people. Despite this however, a great deal of mistrust lingers between the Palestinian interest group and the Israeli government.
Capacities for Peace
Despite the fact that Israel and Palestine have undergone a myriad of peace talks and summits, peace has been quite difficult to attain. Due to the complexity of the conflict as well as constant underlying tension, Israel and Palestine have been unable to reach a firm conclusion. In recent years, the notion of a "two-state" solution has become prominent in both Israel and Palestine. Moreover, polling results from recent years have suggested that Israelis and Palestinians appear to prefer the "two-state" solution over many of the previously suggested proposals. Yet, the Palestinians and the Israelis have yet to come to a conclusion due to the omnipresent tensions. The primary problem is continued distrust and skepticism. Below is a brief timeline of the peace talks and summits:
- Lausanne Conference of 1949
- PLO Acceptance (Two-state solution)
- Madrid (1991-93)
- Oslo (1993)
- Lead to signing of the Oslo Accords
- Camp David Summit (2000)
- Beirut Summit
- "Road Map" for Peace (2003)
- Initiated by the Quartet
- Proposed a plan that would allow the
- Abbas' Peace Plan
"Spoilers" or Special Interest Groups Within Conflict
- United States
- UN
- Arab League
- This special interest group especially wants to promote the development and advancement of Arab states. The Arab League joined the conflict immediately after the creation of Israel in 1948, acting as a major instigator in the conflict.