Peace Programs

The Carter Center has worked for decades to support a viable two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and continues to pursue activities to promote peace in the region and justice in the Palestinian territories. The Center's activities aim to foster an inclusive democratic society and to advance human rights, accountability, and rule of law. 

Background

The Islamic fundamentalist group Hamas won a majority of seats in the Palestinian parliament in 2006. Since then clashes between Palestine's two leading political forces, Fatah and Hamas have escalated, leading to disastrous consequences.

In June 2007, Hamas took control of Gaza following conflicts between Fatah and Hamas security forces, causing the collapse of the short lived Fatah-Hamas Unity government. President Mahmoud Abbas immediately announced a new emergency government that excluded Hamas.

The international community responded by channeling funds and support to Fatah's emergency government in the West Bank, while hardening its no-contact policy toward Hamas-controlled Gaza.  While intended as means to bolster the more politically moderate Fatah this approach is likely to severely undermine the prospects for reaching a two-state solution and for strengthening democracy in Palestine.. Because Hamas enjoys broad popular support among many Palestinians, any efforts to promote peace and democratic institutions will only be sustainable if Hamas is included.

The spiral of intra-Palestinian conflict is unfolding against the backdrop of the long-standing conflict with Israel and the occupation of Palestinian territories by the Israeli army. The Carter Center believes that the single most important obstacle to a viable two-state solution is the continued expansion of Israeli settlements and outposts in the West Bank. A seemingly permanent infrastructure is emerging in the West Bank, characterized by a grid of settler-only roads, roadblocks, checkpoints, and the giant concrete separation wall.

Almost 40 percent of the West Bank now has been absorbed by Israeli settlements and related infrastructure; the area is home to some 450,000 Israeli settlers living among 2.4 million Palestinians.  The settlement grid cuts off Palestinian communities from each other and has had a devastating impact on the social and economic life of Palestinians in the West Bank and on the Palestinian economy.

President Carter has challenged university students to visit the region and see the situation for themselves. Several universities, including Emory, Brandeis, Georgia State, and the University of California at Irvine have responded with trips to the occupied territories.

The Role of President Carter and The Carter Center in the Middle East

President Carter has been committed to peace in the Middle East since his White House administration. In the decades following, President Carter and The Carter Center have continued to promote stability and justice in the region. The Carter Center is a strong supporter of the Geneva Initiative, a comprehensive joint effort between influential Palestinians and Israelis that promotes a two-state peace plan. The director of the Carter Center's Conflict Resolution Program attended Geneva Initiative negotiation sessions and President Carter sent letters to all heads of state with membership in the Arab League indicating his support for the initiative In addition, the Center observed Palestinian elections in 1996, 2005, and 2006 to help the Palestinian Authority build the groundwork for democracy.

Current Activities

In 2005, The Carter Center opened a field office in Ramallah to monitor the political situation in Israel and the Palestinian territories, focusing on peace efforts, human rights, and electoral developments.  

The Center issues periodic reports to draw international attention to critical issues in the region, including threats to a viable two-state solution and the need for an inclusive approach to the peace process.  Center staff maintain regular contact with leaders in Fatah, the party of President Mahmoud Abbas, and support dialogue with other influential groups, such as Hamas.  The Center has been encouraged by Palestinians from across the political spectrums to help foster Palestinian unity.   In addition, the Center communicates with leading human rights organizations to reinforce their efforts through its own public reports.