ORSAM & METU PANEL: Palestine, Trump and the Middle East

The Arab-Israeli conflict has been continuing for more than half a century. The illegal occupation of Palestine by Israel has led to huge migration and violent conflicts between the Israelis and the Arabs. The Camp David Treaty and the Oslo Accords have not ended the conflict until today. What is called Arab spring has increased political uncertainty and instability in the region and it is likely that this instability for a while. As the Arab world is busy with sectarian and ethnic conflict, the Palestinian Issue is mostly neglected by most Arab countries during the last eight years following the Arab Spring. Israel and its white-hearted supporter Donald Trump decided to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Along with a weakened Egypt and more cooperative Saudi administration, Trump’s decision probably marks the beginning of a new era in the Middle East and in the Arab—Israeli relations. The recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital undermined the two-state solution which has been supported by the international community. The United States is also ending its decades of funding for the UN agency that helps Palestinian refugees. This policy came as a second step after the decision of transferring the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. In addition, there is a struggle to redefine the concept of “refugee” in a way that it would be solely applicable to those who were expelled in 1948, excluding their descendants which will lead to more chaos in the region.

In the light of recent developments, many questions arise: Will the Trumps’ so-called ‘deal of the century’ hold? What have peace plans proposed so far? Is a ‘normalization’ possible between Israel and between the Gulf states on the Palestinian question? To discuss such questions and developments, the Middle East Technical University and ORSAM are organizing “Palestine, Trump and the new Middle East” and welcome your participation.

Moderator
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Uysal, ORSAM Director

Panelists
Prof. Dr. Özlem Tür, METU
Dr. Gökhan Bozbaş, ORSAM
HE. Faed K. A. Mustafa, Ambassador of Palestine

Time: 18 Dec. 2018 Tuesday 2:00 p.m.

Venue: Middle East Technical University, Department of International Relations

Note: The program will be in English.