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The exclusion of women and civil society groups1 from formal Track I negotiations is a defining feature of the failed peace process in the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. Meanwhile, the complexity of the conflict, which has already lasted more than 60 years, continues to grow. The current impasse in negotiations supports the status quo on the ground, where conditions worsen, perpetuating divisions within both groups in their visions for future cooperation and solutions to the complex dilemmas they face. A renewed approach is long overdue — one that takes into account the benefits of including all societal groups in working toward a viable peace, and one that allows women and civil society groups to contribute.
Research findings confirm that high-level officials’ ongoing exclusion of key segments of civil society and women perpetuates competing narratives and leads to negotiated outcomes that fail upon attempted implementation. Literature and case studies of South Africa and Guatemala overwhelmingly support the idea that peace processes are more likely to result in sustainable outcomes when they include civil society and women, as inclusivity ensures that negotiators address the interests and needs of all affected groups. Inclusive processes help facilitate shared understanding of the causes of conflict and in turn help create shared solutions.
This paper introduces a model that is sensitive to regional context and promotes transparency. It has multiple phases that mobilize civil society and engage Track I officials in a participatory and democratic approach. “The Inclusive Model for Peace” acknowledges the need to include all stakeholders — factoring in the role of the international community, media, and multilateral organizations, and supporting the inclusion of groups such as Hamas and Jewish settlers. It envisions inclusive processes leading to peace agreements signed at the Track I level that reflect the interests and needs of Palestinian and Israeli constituents. It envisions sustainable outcomes that can only be achieved by Palestinian and Israeli collectives engaging in a process that identifies their needs and then identifies the solutions they support to meet those needs.