Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Border wall
(picture-alliance/dpa)
Background
The unresolved conflict between Israelis and Palestinians is at the centre of the many different conflict areas in the Middle East. Primarily, the conflict stems from territorial claims to the area between Jordan and the Mediterranean. The State of Israel, founded on 14 May 1948, covers 78 percent of this area; in turn, the Palestinians are pursuing an independent Palestinian state in the territories occupied by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War (the West Bank including east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip). The border, the status of Jerusalem, the future of the Israeli settlements in the occupied territories, the Palestinian claim to a right of return for refugees and the distribution of scarce water resources are still disputed (these are known as final status issues).
Relations between Israel and many Arab countries are strained: Diplomatic relations exist only with Egypt, Jordan (established in the peace treaties of 1979 and 1994 respectively) and Mauritania. Israel is formally still at war with the neighbouring states of Lebanon and Syria.
Germany and its partners believe a lasting resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can only be achieved through negotiations. And negotiations can only take place if all involved actors are truly willing to participate. Additionally, the parties to the conflict need external support. Due to its history, Germany bears a special moral responsibility for the security and existence of the State of Israel. At the same time it supports the founding of an independent Palestinian state.
Working to achieve a comprehensive negotiated solution
The negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians are currently on ice. Therefore, international efforts are focused on bringing the parties back to the negotiating table as quickly as possible. The final status issues mentioned above are still unresolved.
However, Germany and its partners are not just concerned with the narrower Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Instead the goal is a comprehensive solution for peace that also includes other areas of conflict in the Middle East such as the unresolved conflicts between Israel and Syria as well as Israel and Lebanon.
A peace plan for the Middle East: The road map
Under the aegis of the Middle East Quartet (European Union, USA, United Nations, Russia), the “road map” was drawn up in 2003. The document builds on German and European groundwork. Its goal is to realize a two-state solution: Israel and an independent, democratic and viable Palestinian state, existing side by side within secure and recognized borders. The UN Security Council approved the road map on 19 November 2003 and called on the parties to the conflict to meet the obligations laid down in the document.
The road map has still not been implemented. Nevertheless, it remains an important document for the parties to the conflict and the international community.
Ehud Olmert (r.) and Mahmoud Abbas in Annapolis (© dpa - Report)
The Annapolis Conference and the Arab Peace Initiative
The peace process gained new momentum with the Middle East conference in Annapolis where the Israelis and Palestinians agreed to take part in direct negotiations. The goal of these negotiations was to conclude an agreement by the end of 2008. Both sides also reaffirmed their obligations under the road map.
As a result, beginning in December 2007, direct but secret negotiations took place between the parties to the conflict. In 2007 positive developments also came from countries in the region: Egypt and Saudi Arabia increased their engagement and the Arab League renewed its commitment to its 2002 Peace Initiative.
The Arab League’s renewed commitment to the 2002 Peace Initiative was the primary focus of a summit of Arab states in Riyadh (28-29 March 2007). The initiative includes an offer from all member states of the Arab League to normalize relations with Israel. It advocates finding a joint solution to the refugee problem. In return, the Arab League calls for Israel to withdraw to the borders it had prior to the outbreak of the Six-Day War in 1967.
However, it was not possible to reach the goal of concluding an Israeli-Palestinian agreement by the end of 2008. This was due as much to the complexity of the issues on the negotiating table as to domestic political developments: Israel’s parliament was dissolved in autumn 2008 and new elections were held on 10 February 2009. On the Palestinian side, the conflict between the various factions continued. After the armed conflict broke out in and around Gaza on 27 December 2008, the direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority were put on ice.
What is the European Union doing to support the peace process?
For years the European Union has been working to achieve a peaceful solution in the Middle East. It is involved in the political process as part of the Middle East Quartet. Due to its experience and competences, the EU is particularly engaged in working to develop Palestinian sovereignty. However, the EU also provides valuable support to the region as a whole as it undertakes necessary structural adjustments, for example in the areas of the economy, infrastructure and environment.
After several years in which the Middle East Quartet was largely absent, Germany made an effort during its EU Presidency in 2007 to again bolster Europe’s commitment. The Middle East Quartet was revived. Since then, there have been regular meetings, both at ministerial level and among high-level officials.
In October 2007, Germany launched an initiative to adopt an EU Action Strategy for the Middle East, which was meant to flank Israeli and Palestinian peace efforts. The EU Action Strategy was adopted by the EU Foreign Ministers in November 2007 and forms the basis of the EU’s common policy on the Middle East.
In response to the Gaza conflict at the end of 2008/beginning of 2009, the EU agreed on a Work Plan for Gaza proposed by Germany. This Work Plan encompasses six points: immediate humanitarian aid, prevention of illicit trafficking in arms and ammunition, sustained re-opening of crossing points, repair and reconstruction, inter-Palestinian reconciliation and the resumption of the peace process. It also defines the next steps required to overcome the political, humanitarian and economic consequences of the Gaza conflict and aims at achieving a durable ceasefire.
Bilateral German engagement
Germany is also working bilaterally to support a peaceful solution. The German Government has had numerous political talks with representatives of the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority. The Middle East is one of the regions most frequently visited by the Federal Foreign Minister and the Federal Chancellor.
As one of the largest bilateral donors, Germany contributes to building infrastructure, to improving education, to work programmes and to establishing a sustainable economy in the Palestinian territories. At the international donors conference for the Palestinian territories in Paris in December 2007, the German Government committed 200 million euro in assistance for the period until 2010. The German Government also pledged 150 million euro at the donor conference for Gaza in March 2009.
Another focus of Germany’s engagement is supporting the development of Palestinian security forces. They are an indispensable requirement for a functioning Palestinian state. To this end, Germany hosted an international conference in Berlin on 24 June 2008, which resulted in the international community agreeing to provide 242 million US dollars over the next few years to establish a functioning police force and judicial system in Palestine.
Berlin Conference in Support of Palestinian Civil Security & The Rule of Law, 24 June 2008
Yet Germany is also working to improve living conditions for people in the Palestinian territories through assistance that can be implemented quickly. To this end, Germany and the Palestinian Authority launched a joint initiative in January 2008 called “Future for Palestine”. The central idea is a political one: The initiative does not want to content itself with the promise of peace at the end of the peace process, rather it wants to demonstrate the benefits of the difficult negotiations to the population as the political process continues.
Last updated 05.11.2009