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Track-Two Diplomacy toward an Israeli-Palestinian Solution, 1978-2014

Track-Two Diplomacy toward an Israeli-Palestinian Solution, 1978–2014 is an insider account of a crucial set of negotiations aimed at settling a seemingly endless conflict. It brings out new details of negotiating sessions and internal policy and strategy debates.

Date & Time

Wednesday
Sep. 17, 2014
12:00pm – 1:00pm ET

Location

5th Floor, Woodrow Wilson Center
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Overview

On September 17, 2014 the Middle East Program of the Woodrow Wilson Center presented a book launch and discussion of Yair Hirschfeld’sTrack-Two Diplomacy toward an Israeli-Palestinian Solution, 1978-2014 with Hirschfeld, Professor, University of Haifa, Director, Economic Cooperation Foundation, Tel Aviv; and commentator Aaron David Miller, Vice President for New Initiatives and Distinguished Scholar, Woodrow Wilson Center. Michael Van Dusen, Senior Advisor, Woodrow Wilson Center, moderated the event.

Hirschfeld began by explaining how he has been involved with Israeli-Palestinian dialogue since 1979 and that the book describes the work he and his colleagues have done behind the scenes. Focusing on track-two diplomacy and the success of this style of negotiating, he mentioned how he drafted a paper that served as a basis for the Oslo Accords and helped to broker the Israel-Egypt peace deal. Hirschfeld offered specific lessons for track-two diplomacy, including the importance of full access to leadership, the ability to listen before talking, and the need for humility. The book includes two major stories, one about former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and one about former President of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat. The story about Rabin stresses the importance of building trust, while understanding that peace is not a signed paper or a specific moment, but rather a process. The story about Arafat emphasized how crucial it is to create the capability for Palestinian state-building.

Hirschfeld continued by explaining how security and terrorism are becoming very serious issues for Israel, suggesting that Israel must work with Egypt and Jordan to impede Hamas’ ability to rearm. Furthermore, he discussed how negotiations are not just between Israel and the Palestinian territories, but also between different Israeli groups and parties as well as internal Palestinian factions. Regarding successful dialogue, Hirschfeld stressed that Israel must create and hold a moral high ground in the relationship, and that negotiations have to be based around the idea that what has been agreed upon can be implemented. In addition to restricting Hamas from rearming, he explained how Israel must stop Qatar’s funding of extremists and develop a more serious dialogue with Turkey. Hirschfeld ended his remarks optimistically, revealing how he believes there is a legitimate opportunity for progress in the near future.

Congratulating Hirschfeld on his book and career, Miller explained how he is less hopeful about the future, citing the many other issues President Obama has to focus on. A product of track-one diplomacy, he suggested that this is where a solution will be found. He emphasized the importance of having excellent leadership, a requirement that has been missing in recent years. Urgency is also vital, but it too has been absent, otherwise leaders would have been forced to act. A credible third party is another necessity and something that has not been present in the last 30 years, Miller suggested, with no American leaders developing any capacity to properly deal with the problem. He discussed how the U.S. relationship with Israel is an asset, rather than a liability, but that it could become a liability if the United States allows the relationship to become exclusive. Miller concluded by theorizing that if President George H.W. Bush had been given a second term and Rabin had not been assassinated, an Israeli peace deal would have been reached with either the Palestinians or the Syrians.

By John Daniels, Middle East Program 

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Middle East Program

The Wilson Center’s Middle East Program serves as a crucial resource for the policymaking community and beyond, providing analyses and research that helps inform U.S. foreign policymaking, stimulates public debate, and expands knowledge about issues in the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.  Read more

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