The Us Role in Conflict Resolution a Case Study Of
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Deanship of Graduate Studies Al Quds University American Studies Program THE U.S. ROLE IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION A CASE STUDY OF THECAMP DAVID SUMMITS OF 1979 AND 2000 Khader Abd-El-Latif Mohammed Abu Alia M.A. Thesis Jerusalem-Palestine 1431/2010 i THE U.S. ROLE IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION A CASE STUDY OF THECAMP DAVID SUMMITS OF 1979 AND 2000 Prepared By: Khader Abd-El-Latif Mohammed Abu Alia Supervised By: Professor Mohammad S. Dajani Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (American Studies program) 1431/2010 ii Al Quds University Deanship of Graduate Studies American Studies Program Thesis Approval THE U.S. ROLE IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION A CASE STUDY OF THECAMP DAVID SUMMITS OF 1979 AND 2000 Author: Khader Abd-El-Latif Mohammed Abu Alia Registration No: 20710002 Supervisor: Professor Mohammad S. Dajani Master thesis discussed and accepted on 03/22/2010 The names and signatures of the examining committee are as follows: Head of Committee: Professor Mohammad S. Dajani Signature:…… Internal Examiner: Professor Munther S. Dajani Signature:…… External Examiner: Dr. Daniel Moses Signature:…… Jerusalem-Palestine 1431/2010 i ii Dedication This thesis is dedicated to the soul of my father who encouraged me to pursue higher learning and gave me lessons in how to be a tenacious person. I owe to him every success in my life. God have mercy on his soul and may he rest in peace. Khader Abd-El-Latif Mohammed Abu Alia iv Declaration I hereby declare that this thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Arts from the American Studies Program at Al Quds University is the result of my own research, except where otherwise acknowledged. I also certify that this particular topic, as far as I know, has not been submitted to any other university or any academic institution. Signature:………….. Name: Khader Abd-El-Latif Mohammed Abu Alia Date: 03/22/2010 i Acknowledgments To express my most sincere gratitude and thanks to Professor Mohammad S. Dajani only for his inspiring guidance would be unfair. My intellectual debt to him is greater. In 2005, I was fortunate to meet Professor Dajani in U.S.A. when he was working as a consultant for the Seeds of Peace organization. I attended his famous presentation (Big Dreams Small Hopes) at that time. Since then I have been learning from him the appropriate rhetoric and style for presenting the Palestinian case to the rest of the world. I learned the concept of “Conflict Resolution” from him in 2006 when I was working on my second master in Social Sciences and Humanitarian affairs. I have been fortunate to be with him in different international conferences where I have learnt profoundly about the factors behind the American role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I wish to express my appreciation to the Supervising Committee chaired by Professor Mohammad S. Dajani, Dr. Daniel N. Moses, and Professor Munther Dajani. I sincerely thank Dr.Abdul Rahman for his assistance and guidance in the preparation of this study. I also wish to thank Dr. Amneh Badran and Mathew Markman, for their useful editorial suggestions and comments. Nevertheless, the opinions expressed in this thesis are my own and not the views of my supervisors or Al Quds University. I am responsible for the ideas, arguments, criticism, and for any mistakes that may appear due to the passage of time and the publication of memoirs may be revealed. ii Abstract This thesis is a comparative case study of Camp David (1979) and Camp David (2000), with a focus on the U.S. role as the main broker between Israel and Arabs. The study aims to understand what actually went wrong in the Camp David Summit of 2000, and it reveals the real factors behind such failure. It explains the reasons behind the different outcome of both summits, even though both were held under the patronage of the U.S. as the main mediator. The objective of this research is to examine how the Palestinians can build a better relationship with the U.S. and how they can learn more about how the United States works, in order to influence U.S. policy, so that it takes better account of the Palestinian perspective and Palestinian needs. Such a change in U.S. policy is necessary for Palestinians to gain trust in the United States as a mediator in the conflict and perhaps, at a later stage, as an arbiter, too. This study briefly discusses the main interest groups in the United States and their role in the creation of American policies that support Israel at the cost of the Palestinians. The study analyzes the nature of the U.S.-Israel relationship in comparison with the U.S.-Palestinian relationship. It also discusses the use of U.S. foreign financial aid policy as an instrument in resolving conflicts, and it discusses mediation as a commonly used approach in conflict resolution. The role of mediation has rapidly developed over the last four decades and has become a tool of increasing importance to resolve conflicts. The study analyzes the role of mediation in resolving disputes and explores whether mediation is sufficient for resolving complicated and very controversial cases, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Resolving such a conflict perhaps needs to shift at a later stage from mediation to arbitration. Palestinians and Israelis need outside help to overcome the conflict between them. The United States has the most potential as the mediator and as an arbiter. The study concludes that the U.S. has not acted as a professional and fair mediator, which has caused the Palestinians to feel that there is an absence of neutrality practiced by the U.S. Therefore, the chances of succeeding in brokering a final, just, and comprehensive peace agreement are very slim. The conclusion recommends iii that Palestinians need to alter their approach to the United States in order to strengthen and improve relations; and ultimately moderate the role of the U.S. as a mediator in order to reach a just and permanent solution to the conflict with Israel. iv Table of Contents Declaration.....................................................................................................................................i Acknowledgments........................................................................................................................ii Abstract.......................................................................................................................................iii Table of Contents.........................................................................................................................v Acronyms..................................................................................................................................viii List of Personalities.....................................................................................................................ix Definition of Terms.....................................................................................................................xi Chapter One......................................................................................................................................1 Study’s Background.........................................................................................................................1 1.1 Introduction......................................................................................................................1 1.2 Research Objectives...............................................................................................................3 1.3 Research Significance............................................................................................................4 1.4 Research Problem..................................................................................................................4 1.5 Research Hypotheses.............................................................................................................5 1.6 Research Methodology..........................................................................................................6 1.7 Research Boundary................................................................................................................6 1.8 Research Limitations.............................................................................................................7 1.9 Research Outline....................................................................................................................7 1.9.1 Chapter Two:...................................................................................................................7 1.9.2 Chapter Three:................................................................................................................8 1.9.3 Chapter Four:..................................................................................................................8 1.9.4 Chapter Five:...................................................................................................................9 1.9.5 Chapter Six:.....................................................................................................................9 1.9.6 Chapter Seven:................................................................................................................9 Chapter Two...................................................................................................................................10 Literature Review...........................................................................................................................10