SIPRI YEARBOOK 1997

3. The Middle East peace process*
Peter Jones

Despite 4 years of peacemaking, resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict remained elusive in 1996. The new Israeli Government seemed intent on reviewing what many regarded as the basic understandings of the process on both the Palestinian and Syrian tracks. This caused many Arab states to review their participation in the process and to halt the normalization of relations with Israel. Meanwhile, Israel accused its interlocutors of failing to live up to their commitments, notably to restrain terrorist attacks against it.

Violent incidents occurred throughout 1996 on both sides, with tragic consequences for hundreds of people. As 1996 ended there was concern that the fragile process might not be able to take many more of the stresses and strains of the kind imposed on it in 1996. Although the process has been accompanied by bloodshed, increased violence is likely should it collapse completely.