Storella Expresses Optimism on Mideast Peace Deal in BU Today Interview
Professor Mark C. Storella shared his take on the peace deal between Israel and Hamas for a BU Today feature titled “Mideast Peace Deal Has a Real Chance to Succeed, Says BU International Relations Scholar.” With Storella’s insights, the article sheds light on how the agreement might come to fruition, accompanying challenges, and the role the United States will play in brokering it.
“If the guns are silenced, this is going to be an enormous relief to the Palestinian people in Gaza, who are under extreme pressure,” said Storella. “It is hard to overstate the level of physical and psychological pressure these people have been under for the last two years. So that alone will be a kind of revolution, I think. … In the near term, one would hope, we will see a flood of humanitarian aid moving into Gaza, so the people there are eating again and have safe drinking water.”
At the same time, Storell observed that there is a lot that needs to be figured out. The agreement is only two pages long which means that several terms and conditions are yet to be outlined. He also stated that if certain steps, including demilitarization of Hamas and exchange of hostages and prisoners, are not followed the deal could easily fall apart.
The US role is enormous, because this peace plan envisages an international peace board that will be headed by President Trump. So President Trump, theoretically, is going to be leading the implementation of this peace plan personally, although it also mentions former British Prime Minister Tony Blair playing a role. So the United States will be deeply involved. – Professor Mark C. Storella
“I think the most significant challenge is developing sufficient trust. With each step, each party gives something up,” he said. “And they will be reluctant to do so if they don’t believe the other side is going to deliver on its commitments.”
Storella asserted that a successful peace negotiation in such conflicts is only possible when both sides reach a “hurting stalemate”, where fighting is no longer conducive. The former diplomat also pointed out that having external pressure is helpful too and it’s often “best in a negotiation for all parties to feel equally dissatisfied. That may be the case with this peace plan.”
Professor Storella’s full interview can be accessed here.
Mark C. Storella is the professor of the practice of diplomacy at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies. He served as a United States Foreign Service Officer for more than three decades. Besides being an ambassador to Zambia, he was a deputy assistant secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration and dean of the Leadership and Management School of the Foreign Service Institute. Storella has several honors and awards to his name, including the Presidential Rank Award and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Excellence in Service Award. To learn more about his work and accomplishments, visit his faculty profile.