“The entire history of direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority during the Obama Administration comprises three weeks last September. Yet the prospects for achieving lasting peace appear brighter than at any time in the past decade. The reason is that, beneath the high-level diplomatic stasis, the Palestinian Authority has radically enhanced its capacity for good governance.

The credit lies primarily with Salam Fayyad, the Palestinian Prime Minister. Mr Fayyad was formerly an economist at the World Bank and the IMF, and then Finance Minister in the Palestinian Authority (PA). By devoting himself to the pressing issue of economic betterment for the Palestinians, he has changed the nature of the conversation in the previously intractable politics of the Middle East. Palestinians now have a responsible and effective government; Israel has a credible negotiating partner.”

Read more…