Is peace possible in the Gaza Strip?
#36
The Story
Imagine we could bring peace to the war in Gaza.
How?
Every war ends. At that point, at the latest, states not involved in the war could ensure that the war does not flare up again. There is plenty of research on what is necessary for this.
Tell me more.
There are three messages for external actors who wish to support peace in post-conflict environments that emerge most clearly. In the following, I quote a paper by the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS):
First, international peacekeeping missions are in many cases an effective instrument for stabilising peace after civil war, indicating that the immediate security concerns of affected populations is of utmost importance. Yet, security alone is not enough. Peacekeeping is all the more successful when it is embedded in a multidimensional approach, supporting the notion that political, economic and social concerns also need to be addressed early on if peace is to last.
Second, supporters of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programmes and security sector reforms need to embrace the political character of these processes. Approaching them merely as technical issues – as outside actors often do – and turning a blind eye to the vested interests involved risks fuelling new conflicts instead of preventing them.
Third, transitional justice is an important area of post-conflict peace consolidation – but only if it meets the interest and support of key stakeholders in the affected population: in parliament, in government and administration, and in civil society.
Sum it up, please.
The prerequisite for lasting peace is an international peacekeeping mission with the military strength to secure peace and ensure fair justice.
What is the likelihood that this could work in Gaza?
"One-size-fits-all strategies for how to support sustainable peace after civil wars do not exist", is what the authors of the paper quoted above write. And since too many parties involved in the Gaza conflict have no interest in peace, we have to remain sceptical. Authoritarian states such as Iran or even distant Russia benefit from an ongoing conflict. It distracts from their problems and goals. And basically: Peace, freedom and a prosperous coexistence in neighbouring countries are always threats to the people in power in authoritarian states. Because it shows that life is better without authoritarian rule. What makes matters worse in Gaza is that there are voices within Israel who do not want to give the Palestinians any autonomy at all and perhaps even want to depopulate the entire Gaza Strip. Then, of course, an international intervention force makes little sense.
How To Save Democracy
The chances of lasting peace in Gaza may be slim, but they are not zero. People prefer to live in peace, freedom and prosperity. These people must be given voice and power. Therefore an international peacekeeping mission with a robust military mandate is needed. I think sooner or later, the democratic states will have to bring themselves to do this.
See you,
Johannes Eber