31/10/2018

Al Quds Center for Political Studies and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung hosted a conference entitled, "Palestinians at a Crossroads: Impacts on Jordan and Beyond" which took place from October 31st to November 1st, 2018 at the Landmark Hotel in Amman, Jordan. 

The event hosted Palestinian and Jordanian experts and politicians, who spoke on the following topics:

1. Outlooks on the future of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict;

2. Prospects of the Palestinian National Movement to end the Palestinian division, the future of the PA and the PLO, power relations within Palestinian society, and the evolving trends of the Palestinian cause;

3. The political direction and priorities of Israel and its impact on the peace process and final settlement of the Palestinian question;

4. Scenarios concerning the future of Jordanian-Palestinian relations.

The conference provided an opportunity to discuss the various develpments in international and regional relations impacting the future of Palestine, identify the scenarios of the next stage, and understand the implications of each scenario for the future of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on Jordan and its relations with both Palestinians and Israelis.  

Event Program: 

Day 1: 31.10.2018

Welcome and Introduction
09:30 - 10:00 AM 

• Mr. Oraib Al Rantawi, Director General, Al Quds Center for Political Studies
• Dr. Annette Ranko, Resident Representative Jordan, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

First Session: Outlooks on the Future of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict
10:00 - 12:00 AM 

Session Topics:
• Is the peace process over, or is there an opportunity to restart it? If so, how? What are the odds?
• Is the establishment of a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders on the “two-state solution” model still possible?
• Is one state based on an “apartheid system” or a bi-national system an option?
• Is it possible to speak of a scenario of a “one-state solution,” where the Gaza Strip and the West Bank are semi-autonomous cantons or states within a federation with Israel?
• Is there a need to revisit the definition of the Palestinian project? What would this redefinition look like?
• Readings on the odds of above scenarios, the opportunities and challenges associated to each, and to what extent they preserve the national rights of the Palestinian people.

Speakers:
• Dr. Ghassan Al Khatib, Professor of Arab and International Studies at Birzeit University; Former Minister of Labor, Palestinian Authority;
• Dr. Raed Al Nairat, Head of Department and Professor of Political Science at Al Najah National University;
• Dr. Nabil Kukali, Founder and President of the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion;
• H.E. ʿAdnan Abu ʿOdeh, Former Chief of the Royal Hashemite Court.

Second Session: Outlooks on the Future of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict Continued
12:00 - 02:00 PM

Open Discussion and Debate

Third Session: The Political Direction and Priorities of Israel: 
Its Impact on the Peace Process and Final Settlement of the Palestinian Question
03:00 - 05:00 PM 

Speakers:
• M.P. Dr. Jamal Zahalka, Member of Knesset, Joint Arab List;
• M.P. Mr. Saeed Al Kharumi, Member of Knesset, Joint Arab List;
• Dr. Hassan Barari, Professor of Political Science and International Relations at University of Jordan.

Day 2: 01.11.2018

Fourth Session: State of the Palestinian National Movement: 
Its Prospects to End the Palestinian Division, the Future of the PA and the PLO, Power Relations within Palestinian society, and the Evolving Trends of the Palestinian Cause
10:00 - 12:00 PM

Speakers:
• Mr. Mohammad Hurani, Member of the Revolutionary Council / Fatah Movement;
• Mr. Jameel Halal, Lecturer on Political Sociology;
• Dr. Ahmad Jamil ʿAzem, Member of the Central Committee / Fatah Movement; Assistant Professor of International Affairs at Birzeit University;
• Dr. Belal Shobaki, Chairman of Political Science Department at Hebron University.

Fifth Session: Scenarios Concerning the Future of Jordanian-Palestinian Relations
12:30 - 02:30 PM

Speakers:
• Mr. Nabil ʿAmr, Member of Palestinian Legislative Council; Former Minister of Information, Palestinian Authority;
• Mr. Samir Habashneh, Minister of State and Agriculture, Jordan; Former Minister of Interior, Jordan.
• Mr. Fares Braizat, Chairman of NAMA Strategic Intelligence Solutions, Jordan.

For photos of the event, please click the following link:  https://photos.app.goo.gl/DvUjrDF5gcMoF2hs9