NOREF - Today's call on Palestine’s future: interim arrangements instead of comprehensive peace

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Tamar Hermann

Tamar Hermann is a professor of political science at the Open University of Israel and a senior research fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute. Her main fields of academic interest are public opinion and foreign policymaking, Israeli politics, grassroots politics and protest movements, and th...
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Today's call on Palestine’s future: interim arrangements instead of comprehensive peace

Tamar Hermann , 26 September 2011

Regrettably, the distinct issues of a comprehensive Middle East peace and Palestinian statehood have converged in the diplomatic, media and public discourses. This linkage reflects conventional thinking, which should be reconsidered in light of the expected affirmation of the Palestinian declaration of independence at the UN in September 2011.
The two issues are indeed interconnected; however, at present it would be better if they were not operatively linked. Today, a return to comprehensive peace talks is doomed because (1) peace is not the top priority of any national, regional or international body; and (2) the sides have no confidence in each other. On the other hand, if followed by bilateral interim arrangements, Palestinian independence may help to avoid a new frustrationaggression cycle and serve as a game changer that will open the door to peacenegotiations later. The international community should therefore change its call and encourage and support interim understandings. Comprehensive peace negotiations should wait for better days.