Will the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Impede the War on Terrorism?

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Abstract:

The current round of hostilities between Israel and the Palestinians has the potential to greatly complicate -- and perhaps thwart entirely -- the War on Terrorism. A spillover of the Palestinian conflict into the larger region would threaten the stability of Pro-American regimes and would play right into the hands of regimes and groups hostile to American interests in the region. How did we get to this point The newest Israeli-Palestinian fighting began in September 2000 when then-opposition leader now prime minister Ariel Sharon made a provocative visit with 1,000 Israeli police to the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem -- a site considered holy by Muslims around the world. Sharons stated goal was to assert permanent Israeli sovereignty over the entirety of Jerusalem, including over Muslim areas and shrines. Sharons ulterior motive appears to have been to undermine then-prime minister Ehud Baraks peace proposals which included allowing for some Palestinian control in Muslim parts of Jerusalem, and to thrust himself and his Likud party into power. Sharons gambit worked, but not without a heavy price. Sharons move infuriated the Palestinians, who were in any case primed for a fight following the collapse of the peace process in July 2000. While Sharon provided the spark, it was the failure of the Oslo peace process that really explains the current hostilities. The Oslo peace process was supposed to finally end the century-old conflict between Israelis and Palestinians through a land for peace formula. That is, Israel would withdrawal from the West Bank and Gaza Strip lands it had occupied since 1967 in exchange for full peace and diplomatic recognition. Since spillover would negatively impact the War on Terrorism in the Middle East, the Bush administration has attempted to contain the level of violence and prevent it from spiraling out of control. Containment has also included an open call for establishing a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Author(s):
Robinson, Glenn E.
Author Organization(s):
NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY CONFLICT
Descriptive Note:
Journal article
Supplementary Note:
Published in Strategic Insights, v1 n1, March 2002. The original document contains color images.
Pagination:
0004

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:
Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement:
Approved For Public Release; Distribution Is Unlimited.

RECORD

Collection: TR
Identifying Numbers
Monitor Series:
NPS-NS
 Subject Terms
Joint Capability Areas:
JCA_8_Building Partnerships; JCA_8.2_Shape; JCA_3.2_Engagement; JCA_3_Force Application; JCA_3.2.1_Kinetic Means; JCA_8.1.1_Inform Domestic and Foreign Audiences; JCA_8.1_Communicate
Communities of Interest:
Materials and Manufacturing Processes
Descriptor(s):
*ISRAELIS, *UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, *CONFLICT, *ARABS, *COUNTERTERRORISM, *FOREIGN POLICY, *CONTAINMENT(GENERAL), CIVILIAN POPULATION, DEATH, INSTABILITY, NEGOTIATIONS, REFUGEES, AGREEMENTS, VOLATILITY, GEOPOLITICS, GOVERNMENT(FOREIGN), LEADERSHIP, WARFARE, DIPLOMACY, REPRINTS
Field(s)/Group(s):
Government and Political Science, Unconventional Warfare
Keyword(s):
*ARAB ISRAELI CONFLICT, *ARAB ISRAELI PEACE PROCESS, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY, WEST BANK, GAZA STRIP, PALESTINIAN STATEHOOD, AL AQSA MOSQUE, SHARON ARIEL, ARAFAT YASIR, ARAFAT YASSER, JERUSALEM, OSLO ACCORDS, OSLO PEACE PROCESS, ILLEGAL SETTLEMENTS, MILITARY OCCUPATION, HAMAS, ISLAMIC JIHAD, SUICIDE BOMBERS, CAMP DAVID ACCORDS, BUSH GEORGE W
Report Date:
2002 Mar 01
Creation Date:
2008 Sep 03