| ID | 080321 |
| Title Proper | Israel and an international peacekeeping force in the Gaza Strip and West Bank |
| Other Title Information | a welcome development |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Barak, Eitan |
| Publication | 2007. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | Following the establishment of an apparently successful peacekeeping operation
(PKO) in South Lebanon after the July 2006 war, the idea of deploying a similar operation
in the Israeli-Palestinian was raised by European leaders and the Palestinian
Authority. Israel was quick to reject this proposal. However, the June 2007 Hamas
seizure of power in the Gaza Strip has softened this stance, with Israel reappraising
the issue. Based on experience with the two peacekeeping forces (UNDOF and
UNIFIL), the article assesses the potential impact of a Palestine-oriented PKO for
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Israel. The article defines the most relevant operational functions for such a PKO,
specifically: to make defection difficult, to increase confidence in the arrangement,
and to serve as a conduit for communication between the sides. The article then
reviews recent precedents for success, explaining why UNDOF succeeded in fulfilling
expectations, whereas UNIFIL has not. By exploring the reasons for Israel's opposition
to another PKO, the article elaborates on the salience of the parties' ability to
suppress violence. A key factor in Israel's decision should be whether Palestinian
entities (in Gaza or the West Bank) have the capacity to control violence or will
apply it. In its absence, Israel's troubled experience with UNIFIL should serve as
the relevant guide. |
| `In' analytical Note | Contemporary Security Policy Vol. 28, No.3; Dec 2007: p559-578 |
| Journal Source | Contemporary Security Policy Vol. 28, No.3; Dec 2007: p559-578 |
| Key Words | Peacekeeping ; United Nations ; Gaza Strip ; West Bank |