On Friday, April 14th, an unprecedented conference critiquing United States policy on the Middle East will take place on Capitol Hill. Entitled “Great Expectations, Bitter Realities: Human Rights Abuse and Economic Decline under the Oslo Process,” the event will mark the first public presentation of a comprehensive three-year research program in the West Bank and Gaza Strip undertaken by the Center for Economic and Social Rights (CESR), a New York-based human rights organization.
The research documents that after more than six years of the so-called “peace process” between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Palestinians are worse off than ever. Despite over three billion dollars in foreign aid, Palestinians have suffered a 20% decline in real per capita GDP, higher unemployment, greater incidence of poverty, and worse access to health and education services. Based on these shocking findings, CESR will release a human rights report condemning the current policies of Israel, the Palestinian Authority and international donors, including the US.
According to Roger Normand, CESR Policy Director, "these undeniable scientific and legal findings show that the US is supporting an unjust and unsustainable policy masquerading as peace. Real peace in the region can only be built on a foundation of respect for international law and human rights."
Over 100 Middle East policy experts, human rights advocates and prominent academics will gather on Capitol Hill to expose the truth behind the current “peace process” and to discuss viable alternatives. Azmi Bishara, the renowned and controversial Palestinian Member of the Israeli Knesset, will deliver the luncheon keynote address.
This conference is the first in a series of similar events organized by CESR in the US, Europe and the Middle East. The participation of prominent policy experts, academics and civil society leaders testifies to the growing movement around the world to oppose the Oslo process as a violation of fundamental human rights.
The conference is co-sponsored CESR, the Center for Policy Analysis on Palestine and American Muslims for Jerusalem, and is funded by the Ford Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation and the Joyce-Mertz-Gilmore Foundation.