Israeli Views On The Peace Process

Israeli Views On The Peace Process

This article examines Israeli views of the peace process that is ongoing concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. There are a multitude of opinions and views of the peace process elicited at various points during Israel’s history and by a variety of people. A popular understanding of the origins of the conflict from the Israeli point of view is that it began following the 1967 Six Day War with Israel’s occupation of the territories and consequently the peace process negotiations should stem from this. However, there are other understandings of the conflict and therefore the solution for peace, including some Israeli academics’ and peace activists’ understanding that a much longer history is involved, differing from the popular narrative often recited. Suggestions for how to achieve peace in the region include a two state solution where an Israeli sovereign state and a Palestinian sovereign state exist side by side, or the suggestion of a one state secular solution where power is shared by Israelis and Palestinians. Hardliners believe that Israel should maintain sovereignty over the land it currently occupies and give no concessions to Palestinians, others believe keeping up the military campaign, occupation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and separation from Palestinians is the only current way forward. There is also a note of despair and uncertainness as to how to proceed among some, particularly following the failure of peace summits in the 1990s and early 21st century and the second Intifada, as Kaufman et al. have stated; “there is a growing consensus that the current political leadership are not able to build a stable peace and resolve the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian people”. As Cowen says “almost everyone wants peace on his or her terms” and this is the crux of the problem.

The article looks at the views demonstrated in Israel following particular attempts to create peace between Israel and Palestinian groups; such as the Oslo Accords, the Camp David 2000 summit and the Road Map for Peace. Also scrutinized are the views of key Israeli political figures and public opinions at particular points. This article intentionally only focuses on Israeli points of view and not Palestinian views (see: Palestinian views of the peace process), it is not a history of the peace process (see: peace process in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict) or the conflict (see: history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict) and it specifically looks at the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and peace process and not Israel’s relations more generally with the Arab world (see: Arab-Israeli conflict; history of the Arab-Israeli conflict).

Almost every Israeli prime minister has called for peace talks with moderate Arab leaders over the years.

See also: Palestinian views on the peace process