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\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSince his election, US President Donald Trump has promised to deliver the \u003cspan style=\u0022color: #101010;\u0022\u003e\u0026lsquo;\u003c/span\u003edeal of the century\u003cspan style=\u0022color: #101010;\u0022\u003e\u0026rsquo;\u003c/span\u003e to solve the Israeli\u0026ndash;Palestinian conflict. The first tangible signs of this effort came this week, in the shape of the so-called \u003cspan style=\u0022color: #101010;\u0022\u003e\u0026lsquo;\u003c/span\u003ePeace to Prosperity\u003cspan style=\u0022color: #101010;\u0022\u003e\u0026rsquo;\u003c/span\u003e workshop, held in Bahrain on 25\u0026ndash;26 June, and an accompanying economic plan that was \u003c/span\u003e\u003ca href=\u0022https://www.whitehouse.gov/peacetoprosperity/overview/\u0022\u003e\u003cspan\u003ereleased \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003eon 22 June. The economic plan is one element of a comprehensive Middle East peace plan that is expected to be released by Washington after the Israeli election in September. \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBy prioritising economic development over politics, and calling for the creation of a multinational development bank to coordinate those efforts, the American plan is consistent with the current White House\u0026rsquo;s conflict-resolution\u0026nbsp;policy: business-oriented and cost-efficient. \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA difficult first step towards peace?\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe publication of the comprehensive plan has been beset by obstacles and has already been delayed several times. Its release seems dependent on Benjamin Netanyahu\u0026rsquo;s re-election and his failure to form a coalition following the 9 April elections has, therefore, forced the US to postpone its publication beyond September. \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMeanwhile, the political \u003cspan style=\u0022color: black;\u0022\u003ecomponent \u003c/span\u003eof the plan has not garnered consensus in the region because of two fundamental issues: the two-state solution and Jerusalem. Jared Kushner has never wanted to endorse the two-state solution\u003cspan style=\u0022color: #293340;\u0022\u003e \u003c/span\u003eand the US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in December 2017\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u0026nbsp;sent the signal that the two-state solution was no longer up for discussion. \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe plan could therefore be highly contentious for the Palestinians, but also for some Arab governments, which could feel unable to support a plan that denies an independent state to the Palestinians and perpetuates Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem. Moreover, the plan has been dismissed as a \u0026lsquo;\u003c/span\u003e\u003ca href=\u0022https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/04/10/trump-shouldnt-let-jared-kushners-peace-plan-see-the-light-of-day-israel-pa-abbas-netanyahu-annexation-west-bank/\u0022\u003e\u003cspan\u003elose-lose proposition\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u0026rsquo; by some prominent conservative commentators in Washington, who have warned that it could\u003cspan style=\u0022color: black;\u0022\u003e \u0026lsquo;l\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022color: #111111;\u0022\u003eegitimise Israeli annexation, give Saudi Arabia leverage over Washington, and strengthen Iran \u003c/span\u003eand its allies\u0026rsquo;.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs a result, by starting with a shiny new\u003ca\u003e \u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eeconomic agenda, the US team is hoping to garner some regional and international support to either sugar the pill of their \u0026lsquo;ultimate deal\u0026rsquo; or delay it indefinitely. \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhat does the economic plan\u0026nbsp;entail? \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe \u003c/span\u003e\u003ca href=\u0022https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/MEP-narrative-document_FINAL.pdf\u0022\u003e\u003cspan\u003e40-page plan\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is accompanied by a \u003c/span\u003e\u003ca href=\u0022https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/MEP_programsandprojects.pdf\u0022\u003e\u003cspan\u003edetailed list\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, reaching nearly 100 pages, of potential programmes and projects organised around a \u003cspan style=\u0022color: #101010;\u0022\u003e\u0026lsquo;\u003c/span\u003evision\u003cspan style=\u0022color: #101010;\u0022\u003e\u0026rsquo;\u003c/span\u003e based on three principles: \u003cspan style=\u0022color: #101010;\u0022\u003e\u0026lsquo;\u003c/span\u003eunleashing economic potential\u003cspan style=\u0022color: #101010;\u0022\u003e\u0026rsquo;\u003c/span\u003e; \u003cspan style=\u0022color: #101010;\u0022\u003e\u0026lsquo;\u003c/span\u003eempowering the Palestinian people\u003cspan style=\u0022color: #101010;\u0022\u003e\u0026rsquo;;\u003c/span\u003e and \u003cspan style=\u0022color: #101010;\u0022\u003e\u0026lsquo;\u003c/span\u003eenhancing Palestinian governance\u003cspan style=\u0022color: #101010;\u0022\u003e\u0026rsquo;\u003c/span\u003e. The documentation suggests that up to US$50 billion\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u0026nbsp;in new investments would be divided between the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon over the next decade. \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eListed among the 179 suggested projects\u0026nbsp;are: the construction of a new corridor \u0026ndash; whether a rail link or highway \u0026ndash; between the West Bank and Gaza; the construction of new cargo terminals, special access roads and infrastructure at major crossing points; the development of tourism sites and infrastructure in the West Bank and Gaza, Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon; and the creation of an online system of land registration to \u0026lsquo;help resolve contested land-ownership\u0026nbsp;claims\u0026rsquo;. \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBut these projects do not tackle the fundamental issues of Israel\u0026rsquo;s settlement policy; the division of the West Bank into three zones, giving Israel control on land-related issues; the inability of the Palestinians to travel freely; the chaotic security situation in Gaza with military groups refusing to lay down their arms. By refusing to address the political drivers of the conflict, the projects seems highly impractical.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHere\u0026rsquo;s what will really happen\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFirstly, the economic plan remains vague and unrealistic, and leaves important questions unanswered, such as where the funding will come from and what legitimacy the projects would have in territories where authorities are strongly opposed to the plan. But one of the central problems with it, is that it denies the reality of the conflict. It also relies on a perception that Palestinians have abandoned their political aspirations.\u0026nbsp; \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSecondly, the plan lacks credibility. How can Washington convince the Palestinians that it wants to support them, given that it \u003c/span\u003e\u003ca href=\u0022https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/15/1-million-face-hunger-in-gaza-after-us-cut-to-palestine-aid\u0022\u003e\u003cspan\u003ehas ended all economic assistance to Palestine and Palestinian refugees\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e? How can the plan be taken seriously when not a word has been uttered about the political and security situation on the ground? \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThirdly, some countries have already rejected the economic part of the US plan, such as \u003c/span\u003e\u003ca href=\u0022http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2019/Jun-26/486152-all-of-lebanon-against-trumps-peace-deal-hariri.ashx\u0022\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLebanon\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. \u003cspan style=\u0022color: #101010;\u0022\u003eJordan and Egypt have preferred to keep their involvement low key, by sending junior representatives. The lack of consideration by the US administration for the stability of Jordan \u0026ndash; as demonstrated by the Jerusalem decision, but also the US ignorance that the two-state solution is a security guarantee for Amman \u0026ndash; will make the deal untenable for Amman. \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022color: #101010;\u0022\u003eFor their part, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain \u0026ndash; which have undeniably adopted a more open position towards Israel against the backdrop of the Iran crisis \u0026ndash; could not afford to support a plan that undermines the respectability of Riyadh as the world\u0026rsquo;s leading Sunni power. It is no coincidence that Oman, which welcomed a visit from Netanyahu in 2018, announced on Wednesday 26 June that \u003c/span\u003e\u003ca href=\u0022https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/oman-announces-will-open-ramallah-embassy-to-support-brotherly-palestinian-people-1.7412825?fbclid=IwAR0uZj4ddmUidwYTH9dmfRTDUN-8OjABJPC3cAYxgjXogtxanaVeBtjAXqs\u0022\u003e\u003cspan\u003eit would open a diplomatic mission in Ramallah\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022color: #101010;\u0022\u003e. \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFourthly, according to the economic plan, \u003c/span\u003e\u003ca href=\u0022https://www.timesofisrael.com/white-house-economic-peace-plan-may-be-tough-to-sell-netanyahu/\u0022\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIsrael could be forced to make some security compromises\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e to facilitate Palestinian mobility and land-ownership rights. But as things stand, it is simply impossible to envisage such a scenario. What is more likely to happen is that Palestinians will continue to reject the plan and will be blamed by the US administration for its failure. Arab states will maintain their apathy and Israel will accelerate its annexation of some or all of the Israeli settlements with the US president\u0026rsquo;s blessing. \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLooking beyond the workshop rhetoric\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe workshop \u0026ndash; \u003c/span\u003e\u003ca href=\u0022https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcbUsLFSLT0_9wh-vy_9M4w/?app=desktop\u0022\u003e\u003cspan\u003ebroadcast live on YouTube\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u0026ndash; has been greeted with both enthusiasm and caution. Jared Kushner assigned all blame for the years of impasse on the Palestinian leadership, which \u003c/span\u003e\u003ca href=\u0022https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/24/world/middleeast/kushner-abbas-peace-deal-israel.html\u0022\u003e\u003cspan\u003ehe considers to be inefficient\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Amid a series of naive or cynical appeals to \u003cspan style=\u0022color: #101010;\u0022\u003e\u0026lsquo;\u003c/span\u003ecreate heroes\u003cspan style=\u0022color: #101010;\u0022\u003e\u0026rsquo;\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan style=\u0022color: #101010;\u0022\u003e\u0026lsquo;\u003c/span\u003eput victimisation aside\u003cspan style=\u0022color: #101010;\u0022\u003e\u0026rsquo;\u003c/span\u003e or to build a new and optimistic Palestinian art scene because they \u003cspan style=\u0022color: #101010;\u0022\u003e\u0026lsquo;do not need to see the dust\u0026rsquo;, few participants made very pragmatic and realistic statements. \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022color: #212121;\u0022\u003eKhalid Al-Rumaihi, \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChief Executive of the Bahrain Economic Development Board, pointed out that \u003cspan style=\u0022color: #101010;\u0022\u003e\u0026lsquo;\u003c/span\u003ecapital is a coward \u0026hellip; stability is the key\u003cspan style=\u0022color: #101010;\u0022\u003e\u0026rsquo;\u003c/span\u003e and that to attract investors in Palestine \u003cspan style=\u0022color: #101010;\u0022\u003e\u0026lsquo;\u003c/span\u003emovement of people, movement of goods need to be eased\u003cspan style=\u0022color: #101010;\u0022\u003e\u0026rsquo;\u003c/span\u003e. \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022color: #212121;\u0022\u003eChristine Lagarde, Managing Director at the International Monetary Fund, underlined the \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022color: #101010;\u0022\u003e\u0026lsquo;\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eimperative of satisfactory peace in order to prosper\u003cspan style=\u0022color: #101010;\u0022\u003e\u0026rsquo;\u003c/span\u003e and underlined the need to draw from the lessons of prosperous post-conflict countries, such as Rwanda and Mozambique. Finally, the only Palestinian participant, Ashraf Jabari, Chairman of the Palestinian Business Network, insisted that the plan was a \u003cspan style=\u0022color: #101010;\u0022\u003e\u0026lsquo;\u003c/span\u003estart\u003cspan style=\u0022color: #101010;\u0022\u003e\u0026rsquo; that will very much depend on the creation of a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders. \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKushner himself opened the workshop declaring that he wanted to offer a \u003cspan style=\u0022color: #101010;\u0022\u003e\u0026lsquo;\u003c/span\u003evision of what is possible with peace\u003cspan style=\u0022color: #101010;\u0022\u003e\u0026rsquo;\u003c/span\u003e. This is precisely what is missing at the moment in the US plan: a clear vision for a just and sustainable peace.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e \u003c/div\u003e","className":"richtext reading--content font-secondary"}), document.getElementById("react_FEtAhnplG0iiNSahfEUmw"))});
\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith a new economic plan that envisages up to US$50 billion in regional investment projects over the next decade, Washington is prioritising economic development over politics in the effort to solve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. What is currently missing from the plan is a clear vision for a just and sustainable peace, explains Elisabeth Marteu. \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e
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