Recently the United States of America proposed a “peace to prosperity” plan. This plan is aimed at reducing the plight of people of Palestine. Trump administration also indicated its intentions to abolish Oslo accord of 1993. This Oslo accord paved the way for western countries to play a role in mediation between Palestine and Israel. Many foreign policy experts are criticizing Trump on these intentions. But the fact is that the Oslo accord could not bring the desired results in 26 years.
The purpose of Oslo accord was to establish a Palestinian state on areas consisting of West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. However, both the parties are moving away from the implementation of the Oslo accord. Palestinian groups are consistently firing rockets on Israeli population while Israel is also colonizing the occupied territories of the west bank via illegal settlements. According to a few authentic reports, Israeli government settled more than 500000 people on the occupied territory.
If Israel keeps on building settlements, The Two-state solution will become difficult. On the other hand, the rise of ultra-right nationalism in Israel is also causing problems for Two state solution. Trump administration showed some positive steps by moving the US embassy to Israel and recognizing Golan heights as Israeli territory. However, these US steps are being highly criticized in the world. However, the world is also not proposing an alternative solution.
The Palestinian Authority has also raised concerns on deal of the century offered by the USA. Palestinian authority claims that these steps have buried the two-state solution. The peace to prosperity plan deprives Palestinians of their political rights. It proposes a good life for Palestinians but under Israeli rule. Middle East observers are also unhappy with this peace to prosperity plan. They argue that this plan has very little to offer for Palestine.
In 1978 Carter administration of USA arranged dialogues between Egypt and Israel. The purpose of these dialogues was to offer a happy life for Palestinians under Israeli rule. These dialogues were aimed at giving temporary relief to Palestine while Carter administration maintained its stance in favor of the two-state solution.
This US policy was updated under the Reagan administration adding economic issues and political settlements; then named “Quality of Life.” It was proposed in the 1980s. The primary purpose of this plan was to arrange political agreements between Israel and Palestine via economic reforms. At that time Israel was worried that economic development could strengthen freedom struggle by Palestinian groups. Palestinians also raised concerns on this quality of life plan. Palestinians stated that any deal without a political base would maintain the status quo.
At that time, Arab countries gave massive aid to Palestine. This aid was given to enhance economic development and to challenge the Israeli rule. Similarly, Overseas Palestinians also provided funds to the resistance groups of Palestine. The purpose of this rule was to challenge Israeli rule. At the same time, former USSR also provided military aid to the liberation fronts of Palestine. This massive aid strengthened the liberation group, and the first intifada was started.
The success of this intifada forced Israel to look towards the USA. Eventually, in 1993, the Oslo accord was signed. European countries also backed this pact. This accord includes economic developments based on a non-political basis. The Oslo deal helped Israel to legitimize its intrusion in the west bank.
Some very serious events occurred after the Oslo accord. Palestinian exporters were not given a license to export. Business activities in Palestine got weakened. Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was killed in 1995 which paved the way for hardliners like Nitin rushhourdaily.com.
These events led to 2nd Intifada. It remained in progress from 2000 to 2006. At the same time, right-wing lobbies gained popularity in both Palestine and Israel. The Oslo deal also met some positive changes. These include a roadmap to peace and Palestinian reform and economic plan.
The purpose of the Oslo accord was to establish peaceful negotiations between Israel and Palestine.
Current US plan of peace to prosperity is facing stiff opposition from the Palestinian side. Palestinian authority claims that this plan completely ignores the formation of a Palestinian state. It seems that Palestinians will not sign this. Palestinians are in favor of continuing struggle against Israeli rule. So the USA should propose a plan that may include a political settlement of this 70 years old conflict.
