A Sisyphean Task. Putting the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process Back on Track

In: The international spectator: a quarterly journal of the Istituto Affari Internazionali, Italy, Band 39, Heft 4, S. 25-42

Abstract

The article argues that Yaser Arafat's death, while presenting a chance for positive political evolution among the Palestinians, might not result in a similarly positive shift in Israeli policies, especially since the Israeli government does not appear ready to take advantage of the opportunity. Because the US also appears unwilling to shift policy, & because the international community appears unwilling to create its own initiative, Palestine & Israel face the continued prospect of violence in the post-Arafat period. Furthermore, from the perspective offered here, the Israeli scheme for unilateral withdrawal from Gaza will create an insurmountable barrier to the revival of serious peace efforts. The article concludes by urging the key powers in the world community to pressure Israel to engage the Palestinians in a meaningful way, lest the violence continue without end. R. Young