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

"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)

Middle East Investment Initiative

August 1, 2007

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Syrian President Bashar Assad (AP)

Investments of partner organizations
$110 million = Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC)
$50 million = Palestinian Investment Fund (PIF)
$10 million = The Aspen Institute/Middle East Investment Initiative (operating capital)

Total amount of investments
$160 million = Amount available to guarantee loans for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
70% = percentage of loan MEII will guarantee
$68 million = Amount of potential loans made available by local banks that are not guaranteed (30% of loan)
$228 million = total amount of potential loans made available due to MEII

Needs of economic market
$647 million = Amount of credit needed by Palestinian SMEs
38% = Potential share of credit demand MEII will provide

Size of loans provided
$10,000 - $500,000 = Range of loans provided
$50,000 - $100,000 = Estimated size of average loans

Palestinian economic market in 2006
$4.394 billion = GDP
$534 million = Total exports
$3.479 billion = Total imports
23.6% = Unemployment level
44%= Poverty level

Basis for provided loans
The goal of the program is for businesses to access credit which will allow them to improve their productive capacity. Loans are provided through local banks on a per-project basis.

Sources: Aspen Institute - Middle East Investment Initiative; The Portland Trust; European Union