Do your homework
Preparation in advance of the summit is essential in working with conflicting parties. In preparation for the 1979 Camp David summit, President Carter corresponded extensively with Israeli and Egyptian officials while greatly utilizing the full range of executive resources to gain a complete understanding of the parties’ interests. After the conclusion of the Gulf War Secretary of State James Baker made eight trips to the region in preparation for the Madrid Peace Conference.
Start with everyone with a vested interest
An Israeli-Palestinian agreement affects regional neighbors, and often requires various kinds of support. The Arab League Initiative is indicative of the nature of inter-locking issues in the region. The Madrid Conference included delegations from Syria, part of the U.S.-led coalition during the first Gulf War, Lebanon, which maintained neutrality during that war, in addition to Jordan and the Palestinians, both critics of that war.
Don’t forget U.S. role in bridging divides is critical
The presence of the U.S. is integral to the Arab-Israeli peace process. The U.S. worked to bridge conflicting positions while providing incentives and guarantees to each side in numerous instances. This commitment was clear in the Israel-Egypt peace treaty in 1979 and was illustrated through the 1990s’ with the Madrid Peace Conference, Israel-Jordan peace accord in 1994 and the Wye River Accord in 1996.
Do not miss windows of opportunity
President Sadat’s visit to Jerusalem in 1977 provided a breakthrough that led to Camp David and the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty. The conclusion of the first Gulf War, the initiation of the Madrid Conference by President Bush, the subsequent election of Prime Minister Rabin, laid the foundation for the Oslo process, from which emerged not only consensus around a two- state solution to the still unresolved Israeli Palestinian conflict, but also, by 1994, the Israel-Jordan peace accord.
