| Author (Person) | Dajani, Omar, Lovatt, Hugh |
|---|---|
| Publisher | European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) |
| Series Title | Policy Brief |
| Series Details | July 2017 |
| Publication Date | 26/07/2017 |
| ISBN | 978-1-911544-26-5 |
| Content Type | Journal | Series | Blog, Report |
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Summary + The Oslo Accords have provided Israel with effective political cover to maintain a prolonged occupation and undermine prospects for Palestinian self-determination through a two-state solution. They have also enabled Israel to externalise the political and financial costs of its unlawful practices. Unless structural flaws in the Oslo process are corrected, any new talks brokered by the US seem sure to end in failure once again. + Open-ended occupation is unacceptable. European officials must speak out clearly against Israeli efforts to entrench a reality in which Israel systematically discriminates against Palestinians and in favour of its settlers + European states have the power to influence negative dynamics on the ground, and in the negotiating room. If Europe truly believes that preserving the possibility of a two-state solution is a strategic and moral imperative, it must rethink its approach to peacemaking. Chiefly, it should invest greater political capital to realign Israel’s incentives with the goal of ending its violations of international law and support sovereignty building for Palestinian institutions instead of just capacity building. See also the LSE EuroppBlog article Why Europe holds unique normative power in the Israeli-Palestine conflict (accessible via the related url hyperlink below). The Israel-Palestine conflict has persisted despite decades of talks and attempts at mediation from other regional and global powers. But what role can Europe play in the peace process? Drawing on a recent study, Anders Persson highlights that despite reservations from some scholars about Europe’s influence, the EU has significant normative power to shape the process, particularly in situations where both sides of the conflict actively seek international political support for their respective strategies. |
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| Source Link | http://www.ecfr.eu/page/-/ECFR226_-_RETHINKING_OSLO_-_HOW_EUROPE_CAN_PROMOTE_PEACE_IN_ISRAEL-PALESTINE.pdf |
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| Countries / Regions | Eastern Europe, Europe, Middle East |
