People in Israel aren't waking up every day and wondering if tomorrow there'll be peace, because there is a sense of security and a sense of accomplishment and a sense of prosperity...But I think if you look over the horizon, one can see challenges...
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John Kerry |
Current Conflict Trends
The current Israeli-Palestinian conflict has escalated rapidly due to the failed peace talks in 2014. Secretary of State John Kerry attempted to negotiate with the Israelis in spring of 2014 in order to prevent further conflict, but unfortunately these peace talks did not prove fruitful. In 2013, John Kerry proposed a resolute plan to Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu: Israel should either halt settlement construction or free Palestinian prisoners. Netanyahu ultimately decided to release the Palestinian prisoners, and in return, he sought recognition by the Palestinian Authority (Abbas). However, Kerry's attempts had no avail. It was quite difficult for Israel and Palestine to simply accept the terms established by the United States; many nations became weary and distrustful of American intentions in the Middle East following conflicts in Afghanistan and Syria. The peace talks retained minor influence. In 2014, the Israeli-Palestine conflict advanced even further as Hamas, the de facto division of the Palestinian government, murdered several Jewish teenagers.
Windows of Opportunity
While there have been some positive developments in recent years, the current conflict is still rather difficult. Even though recent statistical evidence indicates that Israelis and Palestinians support the idea of a two-state solution, neither side has been willing to openly lessen military buildup and defense. Secretary of State John Kerry has worked endlessly along with the United Nations and the EU in an attempt to rectify the conflict, but the negotiations have yet to succeed. Some of the conflicts have even escalated due to the failure of various peace negotiations in the spring of 2014. The failed peace negotiations of 2014 show that the tensions are still omnipresent. The region continues to face conflict as violent organizations like Hamas continue to target Israelis. Furthermore, the Israeli government has maintained a resolute position on the conflict, making it quite difficult to propose compromise. A majority of actors in the conflict feel that the other actors cannot be trusted, and as such, potential peace agreements tend to fall through. Further reports of violence have been attributed to Jerusalem religious sites (Temple Mount), even though religion is not the primary cause of conflict. Potential windows of opportunity could be rooted in the election of new prime ministers and leaders as well as the lessening of military buildup, however, these windows of opportunity are quite unlikely. The Israelis and the Palestinians are rooted firmly in their nationalist ideals and as such, it is extremely difficult to intervene in the conflict. However, small windows of opportunity may be found in the influence of Muslim and Jewish religious leaders. Some international organizations have begun to fund religious leaders in local communities in order to alter the overall stigma or attitude towards the conflict. By starting with grassroots organizations, the Israeli-Palestine could potentially be solved.