The Reagan Plan and beyond: peace moves in the Middle East, 1982-1985

Abstract

This thesis concerns attempts to settle the Palestine problem between September 1982 (the "Fez Plan" and the "Reagan Initiative") and February 1986 when King Hussein broke off negotiations with the Palestine Liberation Organisation (the PLO). The thesis deals in detail with the policies of the major actors in this period - the Jordanian Government, the Palestine Liberation Organisation and the Government of the United States. It also examines to a lesser extent, the policies of the other participants - Syria, Egypt, other Arab States, Israel and the Soviet Union. Particular attention is given to developments following the Amman Agreement of 11 February 1986, the first written agreement between Jordan and the PLO embodying the concept of the exchange of land for peace with Israel. There were many factors which ultimately killed the 11 February Agreement. They included (a) failure of the Soviet Union to endorse it, (b) outright hostility by Syria to the Agreement and to Arafat personally, (c) the inability of the United States to decide on the names of the Palestinian representatives with whom it could negotiate, (d) the failure of other Arab States to support the Amman Agreement openly and (e) the PLO's participation in terrorist acts in the last few months of 1985 which effectively discredited it as a negotiating partner. Another factor was Israel's failure (which was predictable) to add anything positive to the proceedings. Nevertheless, as was made clear in the King's speech to the Jordanian people in February 1986, the main failure seems to have been the PLO's reluctance clearly and unambiguously to accept United Nations Resolution 242 and, therefore, the implied right of Israel to exist. Behind this is the desire of many Palestinians to return to their ancestral homelands; they do not want to forego this right by recognising the permanency of Israel on the international landscape of the Middle East. The Introduction outlines developments on the Palestine problem from 1948-1982. Part II deals in detail with the period September 1982 - February 1986. The Third and Final Section of the thesis examines the literature on the subject.