The Peace for Prosperity workshop is set to take place on June 25-26 in Bahrain’s capital, Manama. The U.S.-led event is meant to kickstart a new economic vision for Palestinians and the wider region grounded in the view that economic prosperity will pave the way to peace. But the workshop has undergone criticism from Palestinian leaders, many of whom believe that the Trump administration’s peace proposals are biased toward Israel. The Palestinian Authority (PA) has decided to boycott the conference. Meanwhile, Israel’s decision to dissolve its newly formed government and hold new elections later this year has also signaled a setback. So is recent news that Israel will not send a government delegation to the workshop. Nevertheless, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan and, of course, Bahrain have stated that they will participate in the conference. The presence of these important regional players should not be overlooked.
THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY'S BOYCOTT OF THE WORKSHOP
On May 22, 2019, Saeb Erekat, Secretary-General of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee announced that the PA will not attend the conference. He reiterated the PA’s distrust of the Trump administration following its decisions such as moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Other PA officials have derided the conference as a form of “bribery” in which Palestinians are called upon to sell their land for economic rewards.
Amid Palestinian objection to the workshop, a recent article published in Asharq al-Awsat cites anonymous Palestinian sources stating that both regional and international actors are trying to persuade the PA to take part. These parties have made the case that the conference will focus on economic development, rather than political plans, which will benefit the Palestinians. In a similar vein, Jason Greenblatt, the White House’s Special Representative for International Negotiations and one of the officials behind the administration’s peace plan, has recently written an opinion piece for CNN in which he addresses Palestinians’ concerns about the conferences and why rejecting it will only hurt them. Greenbelt was especially critical of Saeb Erekat for stating that the administration is trying to “buy off” the Palestinians rather than pursue a concrete peace deal. He refuted the charge by emphasizing that an economic plan can only work with a political plan, and vice-versa:
“Despite our repeated statements to the contrary, Saeb claims we are trying to buy the Palestinians. We know that won't work. We fully recognize that our economic plan cannot be successful without a political agreement, just as a political agreement would have little chance without an effective economic plan. The elements of the conflict must be dealt with to unlock the incredible potential of the Palestinian and regional economy.”
Greenblatt has also noted that beyond boycotting the conference, the PA has pressured Palestinian business leaders not to take part. “There is almost no Palestinian business leader that wants to refrain from meeting with some of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world,” he said in an article published by the Jerusalem Post. Reporting from the Times of Israel, for its part, confirms the pressure campaign on Palestinian business leaders. Nonetheless, as an anonymous senior Trump administration official has told the Jerusalem Post, some Palestinian business representatives are expected to attend the workshop.
KEEPING THE CONFERENCE APOLITICAL
While the PA has been adamant from the start that it would not take part in the workshop, Israelis would like to play a role. Israel’s Finance Minister, Moshe Kahlon, was initially expected to represent Israel at the conference. However, a week before the start of the workshop, it was reported that at the behest of the U.S. administration, Israel would not send a government delegation to Manama.
According to an anonymous White House official speaking to the Times of Israel, the decision to not invite Israeli government officials was taken in order to keep the conference apolitical and focus on economic and business investment and opportunities: “This is a workshop where we will present our economic vision for the Palestinian people. As such, we want the focus to be on the economic aspect, not the political.” It was also reported that the decision came after Bahraini officials persuaded organizers not to invite Israeli officials, in part because the country is currently being led by an interim government. In various public statements, Israeli officials signaled deference to the U.S. administration’s choice.
In lieu of a government delegation, an Israeli delegation of private citizens involved in business, technology, and innovation are expected to attend.
While the setbacks leading up to the conference might induce a pessimistic outlook, causes for optimism have also emerged. If reports indicating that some Palestinian businesspeople will attend are true, then prospective investment talks between them and their Israeli counterparts can potentially demonstrate the promise of the workshop’s approach. Perhaps a “bottom-up” process will see private citizens set an example for their political leaderships in paving the way to peace. In any case, inasmuch as Greenbelt and Jared Kushner — the other initiator of the peace plan — have said that the workshop is an economic and investment conference rather than a political one, the participation of government officials from every country was not a sine qua non.
KEY ARAB STATES TO ATTEND
The confirmed attendance of delegations from frontline Arab states across the region bodes well. The UAE and Saudi Arabia were the first to formally join the international workshop and have assured the Palestinians that they would not endorse a plan that fails to meet their demands. The Gulf states have taken some steps toward advancing rapprochement. Notably, during the 2002 Arab Summit in Beirut, Saudi Arabia broke with precedent to introduce its “Arab Peace Initiative,” marking an opening to increased Gulf involvement in resolving the conflict.
Saudi Arabia confirmed that the Minister of Economy and Planning, Mohammed bin Maid Al-Tuwaijri will attend. "His Excellency's participation is in continuation of Saudi Arabia's firm and supportive positions for the Palestinian people," the Saudi Press Agency published. The statement emphasized Saudi Arabia’s long-standing support for the stability, growth for the Palestinian people as well as security, stability, and prosperity in the region. The Kingdom also reiterated its support for the Palestinian cause during the Saudi-hosted Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit held in Jeddah last month where King Salman told the members that the Arab nations would not compromise on the Palestinian issue. Moreover, the head of the Arab league, also warned this week that attempts to solve the Israel-Palestinian conflict will be in vain without the establishment of a Palestinian state on all territories occupied by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war. Ahmed Aboul Gheit’s comments appeared to be directed at the Trump peace plan and are likely a message to reassure the Palestinians who have urged Arab states to reconsider their attendance to the conference as Saudi Arabia and Egypt are the Cairo-based Arab league’s most influential members.
Following the announcement of the workshop, the UAE welcomed the initiative by stating the country’s support for all international efforts aimed at supporting economic progress and increasing opportunities, not just for the Palestinians, but for the wider region too. The statement noted that the workshop aimed to create a framework that would alleviate “the suffering of people in the region, particularly our brothers in Palestine,” adding that it aims to “lift the Palestinian people out of misery and enable them for a stable and prosperous future.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said Abu Dhabi would send a delegation and reiterated the country’s support for the establishment of a Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital. Noting that efforts aimed at development and prosperity are not in conflict with the UAE’s position on the issue of Palestine, the statement also underscored that such efforts will only advance and support a political solution that cultivates in lasting and comprehensive peace between the Palestinians and Israelis.
While the US confirmed their attendance, there have not been any official statements from Egypt or Jordan confirming this and so it is not yet clear what their level of representation will be. The participation of both countries is noteworthy: As the only Arab countries that maintain peace treaties with Israel, they have at times served as facilitators of broader diplomatic efforts. Palestinians have urged Egypt and Jordan - the parties most directly involved in the Israeli-Palestinian dispute these 70 years - to reconsider their reported attendance at the conference, saying it would weaken any Arab opposition to Washington’s plan to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But while the Jordanian government has kept silent on its position on the Bahrain event, the same day that Jordan’s attendance was reported, King Abdullah met with political and media figures to underscore his “support for the Palestinian people in their pursuit of their just and legitimate rights, noting the kingdom’s coordination with the Palestinian side,” according to the Royal Court. A spokeswoman for Jordan's government has also reiterated any peace plan must be based on a two-state solution and that the economic proposal cannot be a substitute for a political solution that will end the Israeli occupation.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi also said earlier this month that Cairo would not “accept anything the Palestinians do not want.” El-Sisi appeared to dismiss suggestions that Egypt might make concessions as part the plan, “You are asking what's the story and what does El-Sisi have in mind, and will he give up anything to anyone,” he said. Referring to reports that Egypt could be required to allow areas in Sinai adjacent to the Gaza border to be part of the deal, El-Sisi added, ”can you imagine that I would give something up. ... But, why?”.
Greenblatt sought to reassure Egypt and Jordan that they would not shoulder the burden and discounted rumors that Gaza’s Palestinians would be encouraged to move to the Sinai, in a land swap that would allow Israel to annex parts of the West Bank, or that Jordan - whose population is half Palestinian - would find itself recast as an alternative Palestinian homeland.
