Political Dimension Remains Central in Kerry Approach to Peace
Despite the importance of the economic dimension of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the political dimension of the approach to peace remains paramount.
It is positive, indeed, that the focus at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa, held in Jordan, was on mobilizing to generate $4 billion worth of investments for the occupied Palestinian territories to help fight unemployment by creating much-needed jobs.
Such an approach has the strong support of a large group of Palestinian and Israeli business people, who call themselves Breaking the Impasse, who are committed to peace via economic development and are acting as a lobby to promote it. US Secretary of State John Kerry was quoted as saying that such investment could greatly reduce Palestinian unemployment, from almost 21% to 8%. It would also consolidate the building of the future Palestinian state.