Fifth Annual SBIMUN Background Guide Joint Chair: Mia Sen Chair: Lola Maraiyesa
Chair s Letter Honorable Delegates, My name is Mia Sen and I am the chair for this Joint Crisis Committee in the SBIMUN 2014. I am looking forward to this event and meeting you all. I am a second year double major in Physics and Economics with a Minor in Middle Eastern Studies. This is my second year at MUN in UCSB, and my first time chairing for an intercollegiate MUN. I have always been interested in events that occur in the Middle East because I lived in Dubai, UAE for my entire life. That is the reason I hoped to chair this committee, and here I am. I wish to see you all debate and discuss these burning topics of peace and security in the Gaza strip. The current events have set ablaze more intense discussions about the topics and I hope that we as a community of MUN-ers can deliberate upon this topic and reach a peaceful solution to this conflict that affects the whole world and specifically the stability in the Middle East. I do hope that all of you gain knowledge and skills from this committee and have loads of fun at our beautiful town of Isla Vista. Best, Mia Sen Chair, State of Israel sanghamitra.sen6@gmail.com 2
Chair s Letter Hello Delegates, Welcome to the Joint Crisis Committee at the Fifth Annual Session of SBIMUN! My name is Lola Maraiyesa and I am very excited to be one of your Chairs for this committee. I am a second-year Political Science major with an emphasis in International Relations; I am also pursuing a minor in Global Peace and Security. This is my second year as a Model United Nations member at UCSB and this will also be my first time as a chair. I am extremely passionate about the field of International Security and I m looking forward to a career in diplomacy. I hope to work for the United Nations in Counter-Terrorism or United States National Intelligence. I am looking forward to meeting and working with you delegates and I am sure that our topic of the conflict between Israel and Palestine and discussing ways to bring peace and stability between the two parties, is one that will bring fruitful and engaging discussions. I am also looking forward to seeing what all of you will bring to the table. I trust that you will all take away some useful points from attending this conference. I hope you all enjoy the conference and your stay in Santa Barbara! Best, Lola Maraiyesa Chair, State of Israel ymaraiyesa@gmail.com 3
Introduction For years, there has been an active conflict between Israel and Palestine over the rightful possession of the Gaza Strip and control of the West Bank. This disagreement has only been heightened over the past few years. The struggle between the two parties involved has managed to attract other nations into the conflict, forcing them to take sides. One of the major reasons this issue has gained importance on the global front is its potential to lead to further conflict. This disagreement could lead to not only governments, but also extremist organizations to engage in a global war, spurring increased tensions between countries around the world. This turmoil is not just displaying itself in the political arena, but it is also Officer confronting Pro-Palestinian Protester manifesting itself as a terror for civilians in and out of the Israeli and Palestinian borders. People are being victimized by bombings in the area, thousands have been brutally murdered, and despite the severity of this issue, peace talks remain hindered. The United Nations is still trying to negotiate peace talks between the two states so that they can agree upon the most effective solution. Brief History of the Conflict A very vital element of this struggle is an understanding of the history and the circumstances that ignited the dispute. When Jews were being victimized and persecuted worldwide, Theodor Herzl and a few of his peers believed that it was important that the Jewish community find a place to call home. They believed in the formation of a secular state, and founded an organization called the World Zionist Organization to attain this goal. The Zionist movement, or the Jewish national movement, sought to establish a permanent state for Jews through the process of immigration and settlement; Palestine was chosen because it was the site of Jewish 4
origin. The Zionist movement began in 1882 with the first wave of European Jewish immigration to Palestine. In 1917, the British foreign minister, Lord Arthur Balfour, issued a declaration (the Balfour Declaration) announcing his government s support for the establishment of a Jewish national home in Palestine. After the catastrophe of World War II, when British Palestine was undergoing decolonization, the United Nations proposed a plan in which they awarded a significant part of Palestine territory to the Jews which now encompasees the modern state of Israel. The United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine (Resolution 181 General Assembly.) recommended a partition with an economic union of mandatory Palestine to follow the termination of the British mandate. In addition to that, it recommended the creation of independent Arab and Jewish states. The Jewish accepted, but Arab leaders rejected the partition because a UN charter (GA Resolution 1514), laid the right to self determination and granted people the right to determine their own destiny. Israel then became a single Jewish state amidst a largely Muslim population. Its neighbors were infuriated by the concessions made by the United Nations and they held that the land given to the Jewish community needed to be taken away and returned to the Palestinians, who were considered the rightful owners. This led to military action against Israel by its Arab neighbors. With foreign military support Israel gained enough strength to repel the attacks, which enabled them to form an army strong enough to protect the land they now believe to be theirs. In regards to Palestine, a rise in Palestinian Nationalism in the 1920s led to a full-scale war between the two nations in 1947-1948. The outcome of the war was undetermined and the conflict persists on various levels even today. 5
Peace Talks Brief Overview The tumultuous and often violent relationship between Israel and Palestine since the immigration of Jews to Palestine beginning in the 1880s, and the establishment of the Jewish state of Israel in 1948 has been met with many trying attempts to reach concrete agreements and achieve a lasting peace. Both sides, fueled by nationalistic aspiration, are fighting to attain their own sovereign homelands. The majority of conflict has been over territorial claims, especially over the areas of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The West Bank and the Gaza Strip became distinct political units as a result of the 1949 armistice that divided the new Jewish state of Israel from other parts of Mandate Palestine. 1 Throughout the duration of this conflict various resolutions have been proposed and many peace talks have taken place between leaders from Israel, Palestine and other countries as well. Highlights in the timeline of the Peace Process The Oslo accord of September 1993 was an historic turning point in relations. Constructed by Israeli and Palestinian negotiators, it forced both sides to come to terms with each other s existence. Israel agreed to recognize Palestinian autonomy in the West Bank and Gaza Strip by beginning to withdraw from the cities of Gaza and Jericho -- essentially exchanging land for peace. The Palestinians in turn recognized Israel s right to exist while also renouncing the use of terrorism and its long-held call for Israel s destruction. In September of 1997 the Interim Agreement on West Bank and Gaza Strip was signed by Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat, this was the second major step in the Oslo process. Israeli forces would withdraw from the six largest cities in the West Bank. Three percent of the West Bank territory -- which contained approximately one-third of its Palestinian population -- now came under Palestinian Authority jurisdiction. In addition, the West Bank was to be divided into three areas: one under 1 Joel Beinin and Lisa Hajjar, Primer on Palestine, Israel and the Arab-Israeli Conflict, Middle East Research and Information Project, february 2014, accessed, july 31, 2014, http://www.merip.org/primer-palestine-israel-arab-israeli-conflict-new#the Land and the People. 6
exclusive Palestinian control; one where Palestinians had civilian control and Israelis controlled security; and one area that would be controlled exclusively by Israel. 2 In 2000, talks at Camp David, sponsored by U.S. President Bill Clinton sought to address the final status issues of refugees, borders, security, and Jerusalem. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak offered a proposal that included a Palestinian state in Gaza, much of the West Bank, and a large part of East Jerusalem more than 90 percent of the occupied territories. In exchange, Palestinians had to end the conflict and forego future claims on Israel. However, Palestinian President Yasser Arafat rejected the offer. 3 At the Taba talks in 2001, Palestinians made counter offers but were unable to reach an agreement with Israel due to changes in U.S. and Israeli leadership. In 2003, U.S. President George W. Bush proposed a Road Map for Peace which called first and foremost for and end to violence and terrorism tactics. It laid out that a settlement, negotiated between the parties, will result in the emergence of an independent, democratic, and viable Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with Israel and its other neighbors. 4 Furthermore, in 2007 the United States unveiled a Joint Understanding in Annapolis where leaders from both sides, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel and President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine agreed to a new round of diplomacy. There was an agreement to engage in negotiations, and make every effort to conclude before the end of 2008. A steering committee, led jointly by the head of the delegation of each party, will meet continuously and develop a joint work plan and establish and oversee the work of negotiations teams to address all issues surrounding the conflict. 5 Beginning in July 2013, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry attempted to restart the peace process with negotiations still aimed at a two-state solution. But have been 2 Shattered Dreams of Peace, Frontline-PBS, june 2002, accessed, august 01, 2014 http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/oslo/negotiations/ 3 Crisis Guide: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Council on Foreign Relations, accessed august 01, 2014 http://www.cfr.org/israel/crisis-guide-israeli-palestinian-conflict/p13850 4 Israel-Palestinian Peace Process: The Middle East Road Map, Jewish Virtual Library, april 30, 2003, accessed, august 01, 2014, http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/peace/road.html 5 Joint Understanding Read by President Bush at Annapolis Conference, The White House- George W. Bush. Office of the Press Secretary, november 27, 2007, accessed, august 01, 2014, http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2007/11/20071127.html 7
stalled due to the fact that either side is ready or willing to make any concessions or take any deals. At one point the negotiation process, Prime Minister Netanyahu presented a new pre-condition; that the Palestinians recognize Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people, which became phrased as recognition as a Jewish state. By raising it as an essential pre-condition, Netanyahu showed that at best his desire for a deal was not compelling, and even, as the Palestinians argued, that he was actually looking for a reason not to have to move forward on a deal. On the other side, was the refusal of Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian National Authority, to satisfy Netanyahu s condition. 6 Looking to the Future It is not clear exactly what the future holds for the plan to resolve this conflict, especially now that the degree of violence has increased with both sides launching missiles at one another and being condemned for committing grave human rights violations. There is no set formula on how to achieve this peace, but looking at previous talks and agreements can be useful in fostering new ideas and solutions as key components of the current tensions parallel those in the past. A two-state solution has been the dominant proposal, but a one-state solution has been coming into prominence as the former seems to be failing and the latter is becoming more accepted. The issue at hand now will be to cease the violence so that leaders of both sides can be brought back to the negotiating table with leveled heads and work through diplomatic means to finally reach an agreement that both sides can be satisfied with. It is imperative that the parties involved work through distractions or events that could contribute to the derailment of further peace talks. This fight has been fought for far too long and it is time that leaders both Israel and Palestine to work together and with the international community to devise a plan for the final status of their respective states. 6 Robert K. Lifton, Israel and the Palestinians What Now?, HuffPost Politics- The Blog. Huffington Post, updated july 03, 2014, accessed, august 01, 2014, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-k-lifton/israel-and-the-palestinia_1_b_5259795.html 8
Hamas In 1987 after the first Palestinian intifada, an uprising against the Israeli control of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, a new extremist organization, Hamas was formed. Hamas, an acronym for Harakat al-muqawama al-islamiya ( Islamic Resistance Movement ), is an Islamist group that was established by Ahmed Yassin, a Palestinian activist in the local branches of the Muslim Brotherhood. The following year, Hamas published its charter, calling for the destruction of Israel and the establishment of an Islamic society in Palestine. 7 The Map of the Region preamble to the group s charter codifies its commitment to the destruction of Israel: Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it. Their root lies in the political branch of the Muslim brotherhood and is supported by very strong social and political framework inside Palestinian lands. In 2005 Hamas began participating in the Palestinian political process and became the first Arab Islamist group to obtain power through democratic means. Hamas did well in the 2006 Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) elections and this triggered economic sanctions from Israel and the Quartet on the Middle East (the United Nations, the United States, the European Union, and Russia). Although Hamas and Fatah, another Palestinian political party, formed a government together in 2007, Hamas seized unilateral control of the Gaza Strip shortly thereafter in the Battle of Gaza. Institutions of government were seized and government officials were replaced. 8 7 Zachary Laub, Hamas, Council on Foreign Relations, updated august 01, 2014, accessed august 16, 2014, http://www.cfr.org/israel/hamas/p8968 8 Gregory Baskin, Gaza Strip: A Short History of Hamas, Guardian Liberty Voice, august 06, 2014, accessed august 20, 2014, http://guardianlv.com/2014/08/gaza-strip-a-short-history-of-hamas/ 9
Hamas now wields the major political power in Palestine and its territories. They reject all agreements made between the PLO and Israel. HAMAS has publicly expressed a willingness to withdraw hostilities if Israel agreed to a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as it s capital. The manpower of HAMAS is mainly concentrated in the Gaza Strip and areas of the West Bank. The Izz al-din al-qassam Brigades serve as the paramilitary arm of HAMAS. They began in the 1990 s and have conducted many anti-israeli attacks in both Israel and Palestine. These have included terrorist bombing both on large and small scales. They have improvised roadside explosives, administered suicide-bombing squads and also launched rockets into Israel. This group claims to remain independent despite receiving large scale financial funding from foreign countries. In May 2010, the Israel Defense Forces intercepted a flotilla of humanitarian aid vessels bound for the Gaza Strip, which since 2007 has been under a strictly enforced Israeli blockade. The seizure of one ship led to a violent confrontation and resulted in the death of nine passengers. HAMAS publicly condemned the incident, which it characterized as a massacre, and urged international activists to continue their attempts with additional flotillas if necessary to break the blockade. In late August 2010, an Izz al-din al-qassam Brigades spokesman claimed responsibility for the shooting deaths of four Israeli settlers, an attack widely believed to be aimed at scuttling peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis in Washington. The Muslim Brotherhood The Muslim Brotherhood, is a social and political Islamist movement, founded in 1928 in Egypt by Islamic scholar Hassan al-banna. Throughout its history, the Brotherhood has made several unsuccessful attempts to gain political control, and as a result, its activities have been repeatedly banned and its members oppressed. 9 Although Hamas origins lies within the Muslim Brotherhood, the Brotherhood s leadership refutes any organizational link between the two, maintaining that Hamas 9 Muslim Brotherhood, Haaretz, accessed august 27, 2014, http://www.haaretz.com/misc/tags/muslim%20brotherhood-1.477090. 10
only shares an ideological bond with its Egyptian counterpart. However, there has been an increase in communication and cooperation between the leadership of the Brotherhood and Hamas. For example, Hamas announced in December 2011, that the Palestinian organization has joined the global Muslim Brotherhood movement and added Muslim Brotherhood - Palestine to its official name. 10 Generally, the Muslim Brotherhood does not recognize Israel s existence in the Middle East and it is evident with their support for Hamas and its fight against Israel and the Zionist Movement. In a statement responding to the Syrian airstrikes in 2013 the Muslim Brotherhood said the Israeli action confirms that Israel has been planted in the heart of the Arab world to spread chaos, terror and aggression, and to break up Arab countries so as to grab full control of the region. 11 However, as it gains official power in Egypt, winning parliamentary elections, it has indicated pragmatic willingness to accept the existence of Israel. 12 Tensions in the relations between Israel and the Muslim Brotherhood are also elevated when actions taken by the movement threaten Israel and its borders. Many of these actions look to threaten the 1979 peace treaty signed by Israel and Egypt which called normalization of relations between the two states and the full withdrawal by Israel of its armed forces and civilians from the Sinai Peninsula. 13 10 Brotherhood of Hate: Muslim Brotherhood s Hatred for Jews and Israel Flourishes in New Egypt, Imagine a World Without Hate- Anti-Defamation League, updated november 19, 2012, accessed, august 27, 2014, http://www.adl.org/assets/pdf/anti-semitism/brotherhood-of-hate-muslim-brotherhoods-hatred-for-jews-and-israel-flourishesin-new-egypt-2013-1-11-v1.pdf. 11 Patrick Goodenough, Muslim Brotherhood Stokes Anti-Israel Sentiment: Israel Is Our Enemy, cnsnews.com, may 14, 2013, accessed, august 28, 2014, http://cnsnews.com/news/article/muslim-brotherhood-stokes-anti-israel-sentiment-israel-our-enemy. 12 Josef Federman and Ibrahim Barzak, Egypt Elections: Israel Jittery After Muslim Brotherhood Victory, The World Post, june 24, 2012, accessed, august 28, 2014, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/24/egypt-elections-israel-muslim-brotherhood_n_1622658.html. 13 Andrew Glass, Egypt, Israel conclude peace treaty, March 26, 1979, Politico, march 03, 2014, accessed, august 28, 2014, http://www.politico.com/story/2014/03/this-day-in-politics-egypt-israel-march-26-1979-105014.html. 11
Issues Involved in the Peace Process 1. The formation of Islamic state of Iraq and Syria, abbreviated as ISIS. The ISIS grew significantly when the Arab Spring began and was strengthened when the Syrian Civil unrest took place. The ISIS is known for it s non-state activities against several groups of people. It was allegedly linked to Al Qaeda, until recently when the ties were severed because of certain differences. This organisation is led by Abu Bakr al- Baghdadi 14, who emerged as a leader of the Al-Qaeda in 2010. Baghdadi is known for his tactics has been a military commander. Analysts say that this aspect of his personality The Iron Dome intercepts a rocket fired from Palestine makes him very attractive to the youth and draws them towards the Jihad done by ISIS as opposed to Al-Qaeda which is led by Ayman al-zaqhiri, who is an Islamic theologian. This group operates independently of the other jihadist groups in Syria and has had tense relationships with the other rebel groups in Syria. In the January of 2014, there were cross-fires in Syria between the ISIS and other rebel groups, claiming the lives of millions. 2. While Israel boasts a thriving economy and a powerful military, the country faces a series of problems that threaten to rip it apart at the seams. Economically 15, Israel has been hit moderately by the debt crisis impacting primarily the Western world. However, its external debt remains at very manageable levels, and the nation looks to be in a position to continue growing its economy moving forward. However, non- economic issues pose major threats to the stability of Israel. The roots of the economic instability in this country stem from the terrorism that occurs. Israel has always been a target 14 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28082962 15 http://books.google.com/books?id=sdje6l7rrrsc&pg=pa72&lpg=pa72#v=onepage&q&f=false 12
of militant groups and suicide bombers, who claim the lives of many civilians. The death toll has seen a steep increase over the past few years. The economic downturn coupled with the terrorism that occurs has hampered the success of Israel as a country or as a community. 3. The Palestinians insist that those people and their descendants who were forced to flee in 1948, when Israel declared its state amid a bloody war, must have the right to return to their former homeland. Around 5 million Palestinians are registered as Protesters clash with Police refugees. Israel refuses to countenance the return of any refugees, saying an influx would endanger the Jewish character of the state. Previous negotiations have suggested allowing a symbolic number of refugees to return, plus compensation for others. 4. The rough transition to democracy is another issue that pertains in the Middle East. The Arab Spring has triggered campaigns by citizens demanding democracy in a region 16 previously almost content with authoritarian rule. The outcry for democracy has thrown another curve ball in the way for peace talks between Israel and Palestine. The shift to democracy in the other Arab countries have brought with itself a large amount of bloodshed and the current conflict between the two states would only hinder that process further. 16 http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/spotlight/2011/02/2011222121213770475.html 13
United Nations Fifth Annual Session - SBIMUN Bloc Analysis: Allies, Adversaries and Non-State Actors 17 The United Nations has repeatedly been at the center of diplomatic efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, beginning with its 1947 proposal for a two-state partition of the British Mandate of Palestine. Israel has a tenuous relationship with the international body: It has repeatedly been criticized for its alleged violation of various Security Council resolutions; and it took deep umbrage at a 1975 General Assembly resolution, pushed through by an Arab-Soviet bloc coalition, equating Zionism with racism, which has since been rescinded. The United States has often chastised the world body for what it sees as an obsession with castigating Israel. Still, UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338, passed following the 1967 and 1973 wars, remain instrumental to peace talks. United States of America During the war between Israel and Palestine in 2008-2009, there were plenty of covert interactions between the United States and Israel. On the Political front, The U.S. blocked the December 30 th 2008 ceasefire proposal at the U.N. Security Council 18. On the 31rst, there was supposed to be a deal between U.S. and a German merchant ship to deliver arm and ammunition to Israel in case of an emergency 19, many believe that this was their reason to abstain from a vote on the ceasefire. The Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert is apparently claimed to be proud of his role in persuading the United States Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice to refrain from supporting a cease-fire. The Institute for Policy Studies has condemned the U.S. role in alleged Israeli war crimes in the Gaza Strip 20. In 1997, the United States designated Hamas as a terrorist organization. As a result Hamas is cut off from official assistance that the United States and European Union provide to the PLO in the West Bank. A terrorist designation impedes the United States and European Union from speaking directly with Hamas, but 17 Crisis Guide: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Council on Foreign Relations, accessed august 01, 2014, http://www.cfr.org/israel/crisis-guide-israeli-palestinian-conflict/p13850. 18 http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/01/04/idusl4657519._ch_.2400 19 http://uk.reuters.com/article/2009/01/10/us-israel-arms-usa-iduktre50874b20090110 20 http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/01/04/idusl4657519._ch_.2400) 14
Washington has turned to Turkey and Qatar as interlocutors. 21 Egypt Egypt and Israel were fierce adversaries until 1978, when they signed the Camp David Accords. Though sometimes strained, peace between the countries has withstood repeated challenges. Egypt remains actively involved in Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations and the Egyptian government receives the second-largest annual allotment of U.S aid in the region, just behind Israel. 22 Egypt has been a steady mediator in this conflict throughout the years. The Sinai Peninsula in Egypt borders the Gaza Strip and Israel. Since this terrain is mostly uninhabited, it has become a breeding ground for illicit terrorist activity 23. Graphic of the Gaza-Israel-Egypt intersection According to Egyptian authorities, the Army of Islam, a U.S. designated terrorist organization based in the Gaza Strip, is responsible for training and supplying many terrorist organizations and jihadist members in Sinai. Army of Islam smuggles members into the Gaza Strip for training, then returns them to the Sinai Peninsula to engage in terrorist and jihadist activities. 24 Mohammed Dormosh, the Army of Islam s leader, is known for his close relationships to the Hamas leadership. 25 Lebanon Unlike Israel s other neighbors, Lebanon was not a combatant in the 1967 or 1973 wars. However, the country contains groups bent on eliminating the Israeli state. Over the years these have included the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), and more recently, Hezbollah. Israel regularly has pursued its assailants into Lebanese 21 Zachary Laub, Hamas, Council on Foreign Relations, august 01, 2014, accessed, august 27, 2014 http://www.cfr.org/israel/hamas/p8968 22 Crisis Guide: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Council on Foreign Relations, accessed august 01, 2014, http://www.cfr.org/israel/crisis-guide-israeli-palestinian-conflict/p13850 23 http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/08/19/terrorists-in-increasingly-lawless-sinai-peninsula-energized-by-crackdown-on-islamists-in-egypt-analyst-says/? federated=1 24 http://www.timesofisrael.com/egypt-grapples-with-gaza-based-sinai-jihadists/ 25 http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,l-4402384,00.html) 15
territory, including a major invasion in 1982 and an occupation in the south which lasted until 2000, and a brief war in 2006. Syria s deep involvement in Lebanese politics including its claim that Lebanon should rightly be part of Syria and Iran s support for Hezbollah further strains Beirut s relations with Israel. Syria Syria has fought three wars against Israel, and has since antagonized its neighbor through its support of a proxy, the Lebanese Hezbollah Party. Israel s capture and annexation of the Golan Heights in the 1967 War continues to draw hostility from Damascus. Syria also is listed as a state sponsor of terrorism by the U.S. government. Diplomacy has consistently failed to solve the impasse, leaving the two nations frozen in a state of war. Jordan Israel and Jordan have enjoyed normal relations since signing a 1994 peace treaty. Since then, Amman has played an active role in diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. Jordan, which before 1967 controlled the West Bank, renounced its claim to the territory. However, many Jordanians have Palestinian ancestry, and the country remains host to nearly 2 million Palestinian refugees. Estimates of the Palestinian component of Jordan s population range from one-third to more than one-half. Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia has no formal diplomatic relations with Israel, though it has played an important behind-the-scenes role in regional mediation efforts while at the same time bankrolling the activities of some Islamist groups. The Arab League has repeatedly backed a 2002 Saudi proposal as the foundation for Arab-Israeli peace. Riyadh holds considerable influence in Washington, due largely to its oil wealth. Iran As the region s most prominent Shiite-ruled power, Iran s influence has risen in recent years as its two Sunni regional rivals, Saddam Hussein and the Taliban, both fell to U.S.-led invasions. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad s denial of the Holocaust 16
and calls for Israel to be wiped off the map heightened tensions between Israel and Iran and are in line with the revolutionary regime s broader agenda in the region. Iran s support of Palestinian militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as Tehran s nuclear ambitions, have led to speculation that Israel may attack Iran if it feels too threatened. Iran pointedly was not invited to the 2007 Annapolis peace conference. Turkey In 1949, Turkey, became the first predominantly Muslim state to recognize Israel. Yet Turkey denounced the 1967 War and in 1988 formally recognized a Palestinian state. Since the 1990s, however, Turkey and Israel have enjoyed a close alliance, characterized by a free trade agreement, weapons sales, and joint military exercises. Military, diplomatic and trade relations between Turkey and Israel allow it the strength to push for peace. Qatar In the past decade this tiny oil-rich Arab state has emerged as a formidable mediating force. Qatar s strong military and energy relations with the United States give it a chance to forge ties with Israel and improve trust relations. Qatar has offered substantial amounts of aid towards the Israel-Palestine conflict in the past- it delivered $50 million to Palestinians after the Gaza war. However, Qatar s diplomatic turn around after the Gaza war has placed it in a less than favorable light with Israel and some western forces. 26 The United Kingdom Because of its post-world War I mandate over Palestine, The UK s fingerprints are all over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Jews and Arabs alike point with dismay to contradictory promises of national independence issued by the British Empire. Though it withdrew from Palestine in 1948 and further disengaged from the region 26 Gitanjali Bakshi, Israel-Palestine Conflict - Need for a New Third Party Negotiator, Middle East Monitor, may 18, 2010, accessed, september 5, 2014 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/articles/memo-articles/1033-israel-palestine-conflict-need-for-a-new-third-partynegotiator. 17
after the 1956 Suez Crisis, Britain remains involved in efforts to resolve the conflict, offering support and criticism to both sides. Shortly after resigning as British prime minister in 2007, Tony Blair became the envoy of the Quartet the United States, the European Union, Russia, and the United Nations charged with institution building among Palestinian society. Germany The special relationship between Israel and Germany arises out of Germany s murder of millions of Jews during the Holocaust. Germany paid large financial reparations to Israel in 1952 and established diplomatic relations in 1965. The countries enjoy close security, trade, and inter-parliamentary ties, though recent German governments have urged Israel to compromise in territorial disputes with its Arab neighbors. France After World War I, France ruled colonies in modern-day Syria and Lebanon. Though it gave these up a few years prior to Israel s independence, France remained a prominent player in the region until the 1956 Suez Crisis. In fact, France provided Israel with nuclear assistance and remained the nation s primary weapons supplier until the 1967 War. Paris remains involved in the region, but its diplomacy shifted sharply toward the Arab parties after the oil embargo that followed the 1973 Arab- Israeli War. After the 2006 Lebanon war, French peacekeepers played a significant role in enforcing a cease-fire. China For decades, China did not try to stay out of the conflict. Under Mao Zedong, China sided with Palestine. Former Chinese leaders such as Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping had almost unconditional support for the revolutionary cause led by Yasser Arafat, who was called an old friend of the Chinese people. The Palestine Liberation Organization obtained both funds and weapons from China. Even though Israel was the first country in the Middle East to acknowledge the founding of PRC, the two 18
countries would not establish official diplomatic relations until 1992. During the 1980s, China gradually began to draw closer to Israel because Israel s defense technology was attractive to China. Today, China-Israel military exchanges and economic cooperation have become two major pillars for bilateral relations. At the same time, China s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has changed from unilateral condemnation of Israel to a neutral stance. The Chinese government supports Israel s right to safeguard security while opposing excessive killing. 27 Japan Japan has played a significant role to enhance development in the Middle East. It is one of the largest donors to the Palestinians, having donated over $800 million from 1993-2006. Japan has been instrumental in supporting the Palestinian in institution building and basic infrastructure projects. Until the 1990s Japan was one of the few industrialized nations to follow Arab demands to boycott Israel. As a result it hasn t formed any substantial economic relationship with the Jewish State. Japan has also supported the main regional players who are directly affected by the peace process, namely Egypt, Jordan and Syria, through grant aid, loan aid, technical assistance and infrastructure projects. 28 Russia In recent years, Russia has returned to its position as an influential player in the Middle East. Recent talks indicate that Moscow is looking to invest all efforts to renew negotiations between Israel and Arab states, stating clearly that it would like to have a larger diplomatic role in the Middle East. Russia has conducted talks with 2006 Palestinian election winner Hamas, something that other international players mentioned like Japan and EU are unable to do, because they have branded Hamas a terrorist organization. Russia also has certain complicated yet undeniable ties to Israel since Russian Jews form a large part of Israel s population. 29 27 Mu Chunsan, Why China Must Pay Attention to the Israeli-Palestine Conflict, The Diplomat, july 19, 2014, accessed, september 05, 2014, http://thediplomat.com/2014/07/why-china-must-pay-attention-to-the-israel-palestine-conflict/ 28 Gitanjali Bakshi, Israel-Palestine Conflict - Need for a New Third Party Negotiator, Middle East Monitor, may 18, 2010, accessed, september 5, 2014, https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/articles/memo-articles/1033-israel-palestine-conflict-need-for-a-new-third-party-negotiator 29 Ibid 19
Character List Israeli Cabinet - Chair: President Reuven Rivlin 1. Tziporah Tzipi Livni: Chief Negotiator and Minister of Justice 2. Yitzhak Isaac Molcho: Chief Negotiator and Israeli Lawyer 3. Tal Becker: Negotiator and Deputy Legal Adviser for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 4. Moshe Ya alon: Minister of Defense 5. Tamir Pardo: Director of Mossad 6 Yoram Cohen: Director of Shabak (Israel Internal Security Agency) 7. Ron Prosor: Permanent Ambassador to the United Nations 8. Yossi Cohen: National Security Adviser and Head of National Security Council 9. Zeev Elkin: Chair, Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee 10. Avigdor Lieberman: Minister of Foreign Affairs 11. Yitzhak Aharonovich: Minister of Public/Internal Security 12. Uri Yehuda Ariel: Minister of Housing and Construction 13. Gideon Sa ar: Minister of Internal Affairs 14. Yair Lapid: Minister of Finance 15. Yuval Steinitz: Minister of Intelligence, Strategic Affairs, and International Relations 20
Palestinian Cabinet 1. Saeb Erekat: Member of Parliament and Chief Negotiator 2. Nabil Shaath: Chief Palestinian Negotiator 3. Ahmed Qureia: Negotiator 4. Khaled Mashal: Chairman of Hamas Political Bureau 5. Rami Hamdallah: Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior 6. Ahmad Sa adat: General Secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine 7. Riyad H. Mansour: Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine to the UN 8. Nayef Abu Khalaf: Minister of Local Government 9. Riyad al-maliki: Minister of Foreign Affairs 10. Mofeed Al-Hasayneh: Minister of Public Works and Housing 11. Shukri Bishara: Minister of Finance and Planning 12. Muhammad Mustafa: Minister of National Economy and Deputy Prime Minister 13. Salim al-saqqa: Minister of Justice 14. Adnan al-husayni: Minister for Jerusalem Affairs 15. Maumoon Abdul Hadi Hassan Abu Shahla: Minister of Labor 21
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/24/egypt-elections-israel-muslimbrotherhood_n_1622658.html. Glass, Andrew. Egypt, Israel conclude peace treaty, March 26, 1979. Politico. March 03, 2014. accessed, august 28, 2014. http://www.politico.com/story/2014/03/this-day-in-politics-egypt-israelmarch-26-1979-105014.html. Goodenough, Patrick. Muslim Brotherhood Stokes Anti-Israel Sentiment: Israel Is Our Enemy. cnsnews.com. May 14, 2013. accessed. august 28, 2014. http://cnsnews.com/news/article/muslim-brotherhood-stokes-anti-israelsentiment-israel-our-enemy. Israel-Palestinian Peace Process: The Middle East Road Map. Jewish Virtual Library. April 30, 2003. accessed. august 01, 2014. http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/peace/road.html. Joint Understanding Read by President Bush at Annapolis Conference. The White House - George W. Bush. Office of the Press Secretary. November 27, 2007. Accessed. august 01, 2014. http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2007/11/20071127. html. Laub, Zachary. Hamas. Council on Foreign Relations. August 01, 2014. accessed. August 27, 2014. http://www.cfr.org/israel/hamas/p8968. Lifton, Robert K. Israel and the Palestinians What Now? HuffPost Politics- The Blog. updated July 03, 2014. accessed. august 01, 2014. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-k-lifton/israel-and-thepalestinia_1_b_5259795.html. Muslim Brotherhood. Haaretz. accessed. August 27, 2014. http://www.haaretz.com/misc/tags/muslim%20brotherhood-1.477090. Shattered Dreams of Peace. Frontline-PBS. June 2002. accessed. august 01, 2014. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/oslo/negotiations/. 23