Strategic Assessment

Anticipating difficult developments in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the coming months, this article seeks to expand the options available in the parties’ respective political toolboxes. It suggests an alternate model of political interim moves based on a new approach to confidence building measures. Any such measure at this stage in the political process must be reciprocal and reflect the sides’ willingness to compromise on the deepest points of contention and prepare the ground for negotiations over a permanent agreement, while avoiding a fundamental change in the status quo before the sides are ripe to make that change. The author proposes that Israel adopt a limited voluntary evacuation-compensation law for residents of the settlements in exchange for Palestinian encouragement of refugees to accept compensation and agree to resettlement outside of Israel.