Investment in Peace: The Politics of Economic Cooperation between Israel, Jordan and the Palestinians

The Israeli-Palestinian peace declaration of September 1993 and the Israeli-Jordanian peace treaty a year later have created a new reality in the Middle East and increased the likelihood of economic cooperation between Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian Authority. Entrepreneurial economic cooperation among Israelis, Jordanians, and Palestinians can aid in the proliferation of peaceful settlements and serve as a means for increasing trust and durable coexistence. This book examines the political environment and bureaucratic cultures that underlie economic relations between the three parties, thereby providing a better understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of encouraging patterns of economic cooperation, the potential strategies that would lead to successful economic ventures, and the prospects for implementation. A prime conclusion drawn from the study is that strengthening political stability and peaceful coexistence in the Middle East can only take place by encouraging innovative modes of thinking with respect to economic cooperation. Various ideas are put forward in order to begin "Investing in Peace".