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In-Depth Coverage

Original Commentaries

09/04/08
From Zero-Sum to Win-Win  —Mara Rudman, adviser, Middle East Progress; senior fellow, Center for American Progress. Original Commentary for Middle East Bulletin.
09/04/08
How Progress Is Possible  —
08/07/08
How to Deal with Jerusalem  —Lt. Col. (Res.) Ron Shatzberg, Project Director, Economic Cooperation Foundation. Interview with Middle East Bulletin.

Setting the Record Straight

Two-State Solution Still Best Option

“In practical terms, we can reach two conclusions: First, a final-status agreement, although its details are known, cannot be secured in the foreseeable future. Second, the time has come to think about other solutions. One of them is a return not to the 1967 borders, but rather, to the reality that prevailed in 1967, when Jordan controlled the West Bank.”
—Major General (ret.) Giora Eiland, “The Jordanian Option,” YNet, September 3, 2008 versus
  • "On both sides of the green line and, indeed, wherever people think about solutions to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict, a lot of old/new thinking is taking place. … Most of these ideas are patently unrealistic. Discussion of them often reflects despair, not pragmatic strategic thinking. … Precisely because there is no such alternative, other options more readily suggest themselves, ranging from temporary conflict management to three states or entities. Nor does failure today mean that tomorrow we cannot try again to arrive at a two-state solution, which remains the best option for all."
    —Yossi Alpher, coeditor of the bitterlemons family of internet publications & former director, Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies, Tel Aviv University, "One State Definitely Not an Option," bitterlemons.org, August 18, 2008

    • Middle East Analysis

    • How Progress Is Possible —Hiba Husseini, chair, Legal Committee to Final Status Negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis; former vice chairperson of the Palestine Securities Exchange (1998-May 2005). Interview with Middle East Bulletin.
    • Perils of an Israeli Transition —The New York Times, Editorial
    • The Arabs Will Look Differently Upon America —Ron Pundak, director general of the Peres Center for Peace and former architects and negotiators of the Oslo Agreement (bitterlemons.org)

    Gaza By Numbers

    August 17, 2007

    Economic Effects (June – July 2007)
    General
    238: Average truckloads per day prior to June 19th, 2007
    118: Average truckloads per day since June 19th, 2007
    3,190: Temporarily closed factories (80% of total factories)
    66,000: Temporarily laid off workers
    $23 million: Monetary loss
    $0.5 million: Average daily loss
    $370 million: Combined loss in value of all construction projects caused by lack of raw materials

    Industrial Sector (garment, processed foods and furniture)
    Number of working establishments
    3,900: June 2005
    780: July 2007

    Number of Working Employees
    35,000: June 2005
    4,200: July 2007

    Export (truckloads)
    748: June 2005
    0: July 2007

    Humanitarian Aid
    * The IDF Coordination and Liaison Unit facilitates the transfer of aid into Gaza. The unit’s coordination of breaks in curfews and the opening of humanitarian supply routes allows aid to reach the Gaza Strip.

    Food
    Basic food supplies are available on the Gazan market, at higher than average prices. Milk powder, wheat flour, fresh meat, vegetable oil and rice continue to be in short supply, however.

    Medical Supplies
    The Palestinian Ministry of Health reports that primary and secondary health care facilities are functioning without major disruptions. There has been a continued shortage at Gaza City drug stores of about a quarter of the essential drug list supplies.

    Status of Border Crossings
    Kerem Shalom Crossing: 444 truckloads of food and medical supplies entered through Kerem Shalom between July 19th and August 6th. Israel designated Kerem Shalom as the main transfer point of goods into Gaza, however it has frequently been closed in response to rocket attacks.

    Sufa Crossing: The temporary closures of the Kerem Shalom crossing has resulted in Sufa serving as the primary crossing for goods into Gaza, despite less than optimal conditions. 3,306 truckloads of humanitarian aid entered through Sufa between July 19th and August 6th.

    Karni Crossing: The main Palestinian commercial crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip has remained closed since June 13th. One conveyer belt remains open two days a week for the transfer of grains and animal feed.

    Erez Crossing: The crossing for individuals is open for the passage of employees of international organizations, diplomats, foreign journalists, Palestinians with dual citizenship and urgent humanitarian cases and others with specific permits. In addition to these individuals, an average of 20 senior Palestinian merchants cross into Israel through Erez every day.

    Nahal Oz Crossing: The crossing is used for the transfer of fuels into the Gaza Strip. It has remained open since June 15th, enabling the continued operation of the Strip’s power plant.

    Rafah Crossing (Egypt border): The crossing has been closed since the outbreak of fighting between Hamas and Fatah. Between July 29th and August 7th, 5,166 Palestinians waiting at the Rafah crossing since the outbreak of fighting between Hamas and Fatah, returned to Gaza through the Nitzana Checkpoint in northern Gaza and Erez Crossing. At least 1,000 more Palestinians are still waiting to cross.