Middle East

The Middle East peace process, which began in Madrid, Spain, in 1991, stagnated in 1997, despite efforts to get it back on track. The Protocol concerning the redeployment of the Israeli Defence Forces in Hebron, concluded in January, and other Israeli measures, including the release of all female Palestinian prisoners, inspired hope for a revival of the peace talks. However, Israel’s decision to start construction of a new settlement in Jebel Abu Ghneim south of East Jerusalem in March—the first since Israel had announced in August 1996 that it would cancel the restrictions on the building of settlements imposed in 1992 by the previous Government—thwarted that positive trend and led to a dangerous and lengthy stalemate. Terrorist bombings in Israel, which took the lives of innocent people, further shook the confidence between Israelis and Palestinians and deepened the crisis. The Israel-Syrian Arab Republic and Israel-Lebanon tracks of negotiations were also stalled.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Partnerships for the Goals