Paths to Peace: Proposals to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Paths to Peace: Proposals to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

16 Sep 2008

The panel debate whether it is possible to achieve a resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. They discuss the measures that can be taken, who should be involved in brokering peace, and what kind of a peace can be achieved.

Dan Gillerman begins by stating his optimism that the Israel-Palestine conflict can be resolved, and cites the 2007 Middle East peace conference in Annapolis as a turning point. He suggests that Islam has been hijacked by fundamentalists and that the only way for peace to be negotiated between Israel and Palestine is if the Muslim and Arab worlds can unite. Dr Hanan Ashrawi is also optimistic, she states that unilateral or bilateral negotiations will not work, and that a multinational approach involving third parties is the only way forward, and stresses the need to include the Arab countries if they are prepared to be involved.

Efraim Halevy is less optimistic about the chances of reaching a settlement in the near future. He first lists the conditions that are necessary for a resolution to the conflict and then how far we currently are away from them. He diverges from the previous speakers in saying that this is a problem that is to be solved bilaterally - by Israel and Palestine together, without third party intervention. Mustafa Barghouti cites a lack of political will as the main reason why the Israel-Palestine situation has not been resolved. He suggests that a one state solution will result in a state with unequal rights for Palestinians and Israelis, and suggests that in resolving the situation we should go back to basics - the Israeli occupation must end, Arab initiatives must be discussed, and there must be an international peace conference.

Yael Dayan begins by saying that she doesn't want to talk about who is to blame, but instead wants to focus on the future. However, she believes that there is no way that Israel can justify a 40 year occupation, and suggests the only way forward is a two state solution, with Israeli forces ending their occupation of Palestinian territory. Sir Malcolm Rifkind suggests that we have good cause to be optimistic about resolving the conflict - firstly because of historical precedents such as the settlements reached between Israel and Egypt and Israel and Jordan, and also because the majority of Palestinians and Israelis agree to a two state resolution. He also cites the 1955 treaty that saw Austria, by pledging to remain neutral, become an independent nation, as a possible model for a Palestinian peace treaty. This would allow Palestine to become an independent state whilst guaranteeing Israel's security.

A show of hands at the end of the debate showed that the overwhelming majority of the audience did not think a settlement could be reached within the next five years. However, a show of hands among the panellists revealed that they were more optimistic, with five out of six of them believing a settlement could be reached in that period.

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Speakers

Efraim Halevy

Former Director of Mossad
Dan Gillerman

Israel's Permanent Representative to the United Nations
Dr Hanan Ashrawi

Palestinian Legislative Council Member, Palestinian Territories
Yael Dayan

Deputy Mayor of Tel Aviv, author
Sir Malcolm Rifkind

MP for Kensington, chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee and former Foreign Secretary
Mustafa Barghouti

Palestinian democracy activist and member of the Palestinian delegation to the Madrid Peace Conference in 1991. He was a presidential candidate in 2005