The article “how to achieve peace ‘tomorrow’ in Israel-Palestine” focusing on Stuart Diamond’s theories on solving the Israeli-Palestinian dispute raises many good points.

There is no real point in the Palestinian tactic of seeking a UN resolution. This move will be vetoed by the US, almost certainly, and the attention it creates will highlight Palestinian as much as Israeli intransigence. There is widespread support for the perceived “justice” of the Palestinian cause so there is no need to ventilate the issues again at the UN in order to further that objective. Furthermore, a resolution, if passed, would have absolutely no effect on Israel at all; it will just be perceived as a pressure tactic and will harden Israeli opinion.

The answer is for the two parties to adopt a mental position that peace is more desirable than a perpetual state of hostilities. Once that breakthrough is achieved it becomes possible to put in place a process that may get somewhere.

Stuart’s suggestion of economic co-operation as a part of that process is a good one. Economic co-operation within the EU has kept member countries at peace since 1945 – an unprecedented period of calm. Economic co-operation between Israel and Palestine can have a similar effect, because it delivers people on both sides what they most need – jobs, income, security. Once they see that these are the benefits of a peace process, that there is something to gain from a peace process and something to lose if it stops, then the process gains commitment. THEN, but not until then, is it possible to start talking about the content of a deal…