Economic Peace Before a Political Solution in Israel, Palestine
Following dismayed reactions to Secretary of State John Kerry’s Israel/West Bank visit, both sides debate prioritizing economic peace, writes Adnan Abu Amer.
During his recent trip to Ramallah and Tel Aviv, US Secretary of State John Kerry failed to achieve any real breakthroughs in the stagnant negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis, despite the satisfaction expressed by the two sides on the round of talks that he had with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. On the one hand, they do not want to cut the remaining, tenuous ties between them. On the other, they are extremely keen not to anger the US administration at the beginning of its second term.
Official silence
Kerry declared at the beginning of his third visit in less than two weeks that at this stage his efforts will be focused on making progress in the economic situation in the West Bank by make use of all the abilities and development assistance organizations. According to Kerry, improving the economic situation will create a favorable atmosphere for political progress while economic recovery will help create an atmosphere of trust between the two parties.
It should be noted that in one way or another, the US suggestion means that it accepts the orientation declared by Netanyahu four years ago, which first and foremost provided for “economic peace” between the two peoples. Therefore, on the eve of US President Barack Obama's recent visit to Israel, Israel released Palestinian tax funds and the US administration pledged to offer half a billion dollars to contribute to calming the situation in the West Bank following the strikes that have taken hold there, and may spin out of control and turn into a popular uprising.
