Contents List of Tables and Figures vi Exchange Rates, Abbreviations and Acronyms vii Note on Transliteration x Chronology of the Middle East Peace Process xi Acknowledgements and Foreword xv Introduction 1 Social Forces, Politics and International Relations 9 The Economy, Business and Politics 23 Business Interests in Peace and Co-operation 51 Business Ties between Israel, Jordan and the PA 75 Business Leaders and Political Elites 105 Peace, Social Equality and Democracy 128 The Regional Failure of the Peace Business 149 Conclusion 166 Notes 173 List of Interviews 205 Bibliography 209 Index 233 List of Tables and Figures Table 1: Israel’s Economy at a Glance 24-25 Table 2: Jordan’s Economy at a Glance 34-35 Table 3: JIC Holdings, 1994 37-38 Table 4: The Palestinian Economy at a Glance 42 Table 5: Blacklisted Jordanian Companies, 2000 63-64 Table 6: Portfolio of the Century Investment Group, 2000 78-79 Table 7: Truck Traffic between Israel and Jordan 83 Table 8: Jordanian and Israeli Exports, 1997 84 Table 9: Projected Employment in Palestinian Industrial Parks 89 Table 10: Palestinian Trade with Israel and Jordan, 1990-1998 93 Table 11: Jordanian-Palestinian Trade, 1995-1998 99 Table 12: Truck Traffic between Jordan and the PA, 1997 102 Table 13: Costs of Palestinian Imports from Jordan 103 Table 14: PCSC Holdings, 1999 123 Figure 1: The Palestine Development and Investment Company 47 Exchange Rates (June 2002) $1 = NIS 4.95 NIS 1 = $0.20 $1 = JD 0.71 JD 1 = $1.42 Acronyms and Abbreviations ABA............................................................................... Arab Businessmen Association ACC......................................................................................Arab Co-operation Council ACC.............................................................................Amman Chamber of Commerce ACI .................................................................................. Amman Chamber of Industry AIC ..........................................................................................Arab Industrial Company APC ..............................................................................................Arab Potash Company APIC.................................................................Arab Palestinian Investment Company Aqaria ....................................................... Palestine Real Estate Investment Company ATS.........................................................................................Arab Technology Systems BOT...........................................................................................Build, Operate, Transfer CBEO...........................................Co-ordinating Bureau of Economic Organisations CBJ...............................................................................................Central Bank of Jordan CCC ...................................................................... Consolidated Contractors Company CCS...................................................................... Computer Communications Systems CEO............................................................................................Chief Executive Officer CFO............................................................................................. Chief Financial Officer CPRS............................................................Center for Palestine Research and Studies DIC...........................................................................Discount Investment Corporation ECC ..............................................................................Economic Consultative Council ECF........................................................................Economic Cooperation Foundation ESC.......................................................................................Economic Security Council ESCWA.....................................Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia EU...........................................................................................................European Union FDI ........................................................................................Foreign Direct Investment FEZ ................................................................................................Free Economic Zone FICC.....................................................Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce FJCC...............................................Federation of Jordanian Chambers of Commerce FTA...............................................................................................Free Trade Agreement GCC......................................................................................Gulf Co-operation Council GDP .........................................................................................Gross Domestic Product GIE............................................................................................... Gaza Industrial Estate GNI ............................................................................................Gross National Income viii GNP ...........................................................................................Gross National Product GSS............................................................................................General Security Service GTZ...................................................... Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit ....................................................................(German Agency for Technical Assistance) HCH.................................................... Housing and Construction Holding Company HCIF .............................................. Higher Commission for Investment and Finance IBRD................................ International Bank for Reconstruction and Development ...............................................................................................................(The World Bank) ICBS ......................................................................... Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics IDBH .............................................................................. Israel Discount Bank Holding IDF ................................................................................................ Israel Defence Forces IEC ........................................................................................Israel Electric Corporation IFC........................................................................... International Finance Corporation IEI..................................................................................................Israel Export Institute IMA ............................................................................ Israel Manufacturers Association IMF....................................................................................International Monetary Fund INTAJ ............................................... Information Technology Association of Jordan IPCRI ......................................Israel-Palestine Centre for Research and Information JABA ...........................................................Jordanian-American Business Association JBA ..............................................................................Jordan Businessmen Association JCC....................................................................................Jerusalem Cigarette Company JCFC.......................................................................Jordan Cement Factories Company JCIC......................................................................Jordan Ceramic Industries Company JCIEC...................................Jordan Commercial and Industrial Estates Corporation JD............................................................................................................. Jordanian Dinar JEA ...................................................................................Jordan Engineers Association JEC ...................................................................................... Joint Economic Committee JEDCO .......... Jordan Export Development and Commercial Centres Corporation JEDICO......................................Jerusalem Development and Investment Company JEIC...............................................................Jordan Engineering Industries Company JFIC .....................................................................Jordan Fertiliser Industries Company JGIC ..........................................................................Jordan Glass Industries Company JIC................................................................................. Jordan Investment Corporation JMCC...........................................................Jerusalem Media Communications Centre JPMC...................................................................... Jordan Phosphate Mines Company JPRC....................................................................Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company JTA ..........................................................................................Jordan Trade Association JTC.................................................................... Jordan Telecommunications Company JTI.................................................................Jerusalem Tourism Investment Company MAS.......................................................Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute MEBRD.............................Middle East Bank for Reconstruction and Development MEED.............................................................................Middle