Two-State Solution – The Way Forward

Abstract

Since 1977, the Israeli society has been split over the question of peace versus land. The aim of this paper will outline some of the developments that have taken place since the signing of the Oslo accords in September 1993. It has been argued that the peace agreement was like a Swiss cheese with one difference: the holes were so big as to question the essence of the cheese. I analyze the major mistakes that were made along the way by Israeli leaders: Rabin, Peres, Barak and Olmert. I also analyze Arafat’s conduct, arguing that a brinkmanship policy is very dangerous when one or both sides is willing to pay a high price in blood. The fear of escalating the region into a comprehensive war is very much alive and real. It is argued that the way to escape the deadlock is to rely on the Clinton parameters and the Geneva Accord. Both documents lay the foundations for resolving all contentious issues.

Keywords: Israel, Palestine, peace, security, Oslo, Camp David

JEL Classification: Z00