Strategic Assessment

Recent years have seen emphasis on a new core issue in the Israeli—Palestinian conflict: recognition of Israel as the state of the Jewish people. This issue joins the four main issues that were on the negotiating table in 2000: borders and settlements, Jerusalem, refugees, and security. With the opening of the political talks in the summer of 2010, recognition commanded primary importance on the agenda presented by Netanyahu. The article analyzes this fifth core issue, which will likely play a major role in the future of the political process.