The 'Arc': A Solution for Peace, Finding a Two-State Solution Through Infrastructure Strategies in the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict

Abstract

The Israeli/Palestinian conflict is one of the longest-standing discords in modern history. International actors have attempted innumerable approaches to create a decisive and lasting peace, to little avail. This thesis investigates the realistic potential of a large-scale infrastructure project to alter the conflict status quo and lay the foundations for a peaceful two-state solution. Operating on the premise that a two-state solution is the only feasible outcome, this thesis investigates the potential of 'The Arc' - a corridor of infrastructure linking the physically separate halves of Palestine (the West Bank and the Gaza Strip) - to create the necessary preconditions for a unified Palestinian Authority. This in turn could be the tipping point towards a lasting two-state solution. Building on previous research from the RAND Corporation, this dissertation analyzes the degree of the total project potential, the necessary components, the outcomes, and what success could mean for all parties involved. Through case studies of similar projects it is possible to extrapolate theory applicable to conjoining the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. This analysis will also determine the extent of monetary risk any third-party will endure. The conclusion highlights the findings of this investigation as well as strategic policy suggestions.