Is the answer economic?” “

The recent meeting of the Quartet in New York and the continuous appeals of the European Union support, without distinction, the need for Israel and Palestine to respect the accords of the Road Map. But never since the beginning of the latest Intifada have the hopes for peace seemed so slender; Palestinian suicide attacks and Israeli occupation show no signs of abating. What can the new Europe do in the region? And above all how can Europe “show its hand” and give to the economic factor of the peace process the importance it deserves? Could not that factor contribute to improve the climate in the Middle Eastern area? To discuss the question, SirEurope met Prof. Stefen Schepers, Belgian, an expert in international political economy and trade policy, and director of EPPA (European Public Policy Advisers), a think tank and research centre on EU policies. “The Road Map for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict seems destined to failure: what are the reasons, in your view?” “It seems to me that the Road Map is destined to fail because it envisages a political process without taking into due account the economic, social and cultural reasons for the conflict. The occupation of the territories has led over the years to a system of apartheid that disintegrates the social and cultural identity of the Palestinians and undermines their economic foundations. And this, as we have seen, may lead to violent reactions, even if the Palestinians would have greater interest in seeking inspiration from the non-violent resistance of Gandhi to British colonization in India”. “Politics, democratization, economic growth: what’s really at stake in the peace process in the Middle East?” “By maintaining a situation of crisis, the advantage of the USA is twofold. On the one hand, Israel represents a strong bulwark in the Arab world, on the other the Arab countries are developing with greater slowness at the political and economic levels: this has an influence on the price of oil, that is maintained low. The consequence is that American industry enjoys a competitive advantage on world markets, and also avoids having to proceed to the necessary reforms to curb the energy wastage of its consumers. What’s really at stake is the economy, and the political and ideological arguments serve only to camouflage the reality”. “Do you think that united Europe can still play a decisive role in the region? And if so, how?” “The European Union must undoubtedly play a constructive role throughout the Mediterranean basin and in the Arab world, with which it is bound not only by ancient bonds of civilization, but also by some more immediate interests. The EU must also offer models of economic and political cooperation that permit the countries of the Middle East and the other regions of the planet to develop in peace and to reinforce their own autonomy”.