For decades, Israeli and Palestinian politicians have pursued a political solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, only to see their hopes dashed again and again. Today, the prospects for a comprehensive peace agreement remain dim. Policymakers must therefore start looking for other ways to improve the situation on the ground and preserve the possibility of a two-state solution.
Creating a viable Palestinian economy will be central to this effort. Should the Palestinian economy collapse, that failure would hurt Palestinians and their neighbors just as much as a failed political state would. And it would jeopardize their future as well, since no peace deal will succeed unless the Palestinian economy is able to stand on its own.
YADIN KAUFMANN is a Founding Partner at Veritas Venture Partners and Co-Founder of
Sadara Ventures, the first venture capital fund to invest in Palestinian technology companies.
This article appeared in the Foreign Affairs 2017 November/December edition. It is republished here with permission.
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