Bahrain Conference: Journalists In Attendance

The Peace to Prosperity conference in Manama, Bahrain, was widely anticipated and contested. It featured White House advisor Jared Kushner's plans for the Palestinian territories and neighbouring Arab states, including a $50 billion investment and the creation of one million jobs. While Kushner hailed the conference as a success, media reports suggested otherwise, with critics pointing to the absence of key Palestinian and Israeli politicians. The conference was covered by journalists from international media outlets, including Al Jazeera, Haaretz, and Reuters. However, Bahrain's media landscape is heavily controlled and censored by the government, with limited freedom of expression.

The absence of key Palestinian and Israeli politicians

The absence of these key players, however, did not detract from the event. In fact, it was argued that in their absence, dialogue and comity could grow, free from the decades of frustration between Palestinian and Israeli politicians. The conference was not at risk of being packaged as a campaign rally for Netanyahu, who faced upcoming elections.

The conference demonstrated that progress can be made without the presence of these politicians, and that their absence may even be beneficial to the process of improving relations between Israelis and Palestinians.

Despite the absence of key political figures, the conference was attended by prominent business leaders from both sides, including Palestinian leader Ashraf Jabari, who explained how he has advanced bonds with Jewish settlers. Jabari even created a business association for Palestinian and settlement businesses to work collaboratively. Jabari's presence and words were well-received by both Palestinian and Israeli business leaders, including shipping magnate Shlomi Fogel.

The conference also saw the unveiling of White House Senior Advisor Jared Kushner's $50 billion economic plan, which aims to double the size of the Palestinian economy, create one million new jobs, and reduce Palestinian unemployment and poverty.

The Palestinian Authority's boycott of the conference

The Palestinian Authority's boycott of the 2019 Bahrain Conference, also known as the "Peace to Prosperity" workshop, sent a strong message of opposition to the economic-focused approach of the summit. The Authority's president, Mahmoud Abbas, stated that the Ramallah-based Palestinian leadership would neither attend the conference nor accept its results. This stance was shared by Hamas, which effectively rules the Gaza Strip, and both parties criticized the conference for prioritizing economic issues over a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Palestinian Authority's decision to boycott the conference was based on the belief that resolving the conflict requires addressing the political issues first. Abbas emphasized that the path to peace lies through political negotiations, not economic incentives. He argued that discussions about economic prosperity are illusory without addressing the core political issues at the heart of the conflict.

The boycott highlighted the Palestinian Authority's firm stance against what it perceived as an attempt to buy their agreement to a plan that fell short of their aspirations for statehood and self-determination. By refusing to participate, the Authority sent a clear message that they would not be complicit in an initiative that they believed undermined their pursuit of an independent Palestinian state.

The Authority's position was reinforced by widespread protests across the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, which continued even after the conference concluded. These demonstrations reflected the Palestinian people's rejection of the conference and their demand for a political resolution that recognizes their national rights.

The boycott had tangible consequences for some Palestinian delegates who chose to attend the conference despite the Authority's position. According to Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, a discussion facilitator at the summit, some delegates faced repercussions, including arrests and raids on their homes, upon their return.

The condemnation of the conference by Hamas

Hamas, the group that effectively rules the Gaza Strip, condemned the US-led "Peace to Prosperity" conference in Manama, Bahrain. The conference was organised by the US government and hosted by Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Hamas's absence from the conference was noted by many.

Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh criticised the Arab leaders who attended the conference, saying:

> The (Palestinian) people, who have been fighting for one hundred years, did not commission anyone to concede or to bargain. Jerusalem is ours, the land is ours, and everything is ours.

The Palestinian Authority called for a boycott of the conference, which was also boycotted by the administration of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Hamas's condemnation of the conference was in line with its stance against any normalisation of ties with Israel. The group has repeatedly called for a two-state solution that includes a sovereign Palestinian state with pre-1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital.

Hamas's condemnation of the conference was also influenced by its opposition to the US's role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The group has accused the US of bias towards Israel and of trying to sell a "mirage of economic prosperity" that would perpetuate Palestinian "captivity".

Hamas's position on the conference reflected its broader political and ideological goals, including its commitment to resist Israeli occupation and its rejection of any peace process that does not address its core demands.

The lack of a delegation from Prime Minister Netanyahu

The absence of a delegation from Prime Minister Netanyahu at the Bahrain Conference was due to the political turmoil in Israel at the time. The country was led by an interim caretaker government ahead of the September 17 elections. The conference organisers, American and Bahraini officials, concluded that Israeli political leaders should not be invited.

The conference, organised by the US government and hosted by Bahrain's Crown Prince, was an economic summit at which White House advisor Jared Kushner presented the Trump administration's "Peace to Prosperity" plan. The widely-anticipated and hotly-contested conference featured the first unveiling of Kushner's plans for the Palestinians.

Kushner's proposal included investing upwards of $50 billion in the Palestinian territories and neighbouring Arab states over ten years, creating more than one million Palestinian jobs, and slashing unemployment rates in Gaza and the West Bank. However, many countries sent delegations of relatively low-level ministers and officials, indicating the general air of uncertainty towards the proposal.

The Palestinian Authority called for a boycott of the conference, which was also condemned by Hamas, the organisation that effectively rules the Gaza Strip. Despite the absence of Palestinian and Israeli politicians, Yale SOM's Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, who acted as a discussion facilitator at the summit, said the positive nature of the discussion was a welcome sign of new optimism in the region.

The conference's projection of a spirit of hope

The Bahrain Conference, also known as the "Peace to Prosperity" workshop, was a US-led economic summit held in Manama, Bahrain, in June 2019. The conference aimed to facilitate Israeli-Palestinian peace by presenting a $50 billion economic plan over ten years, creating one million Palestinian jobs, and reducing Palestinian unemployment and poverty. While the conference was hailed as a success by some, including Jared Kushner and Bahrain's foreign minister Khalid bin Ahmad Al Khalifa, it was also met with skepticism and criticism. Palestinian leaders boycotted the event and condemned it, arguing that it offered a "mirage of economic prosperity" that would perpetuate Palestinian captivity.

Despite the mixed reactions, the Bahrain summit projected a spirit of hope, particularly among younger people in the region. The conference facilitated dialogue and comity between Palestinian and Israeli business leaders, who set aside decades of frustration and focused on the potential for progress. This spirit of optimism was noted by Yale SOM's Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, who acted as a discussion facilitator at the summit. He observed that the positive nature of the discussions and the presence of new ideas and economic resources offered a welcome sign of new optimism in the region.

The conference brought together over 300 top delegates from 30 countries, showcasing a diverse range of voices and perspectives. The explicit purpose was to reverse the sequence of past peace efforts by sharing an economic vision before delving into political real estate battles. This approach, as explained by Jared Kushner, gave the opposing parties a chance to visualize what life could be like when tensions subside. The plan drew on the successes of other countries that have experienced political violence, such as Bangladesh and South Korea, offering a detailed roadmap for grants, loans, and private investment.

The spirit of hope and optimism extended beyond the conference participants to the broader region, particularly the younger generation. Mohamed Alabbar of the United Arab Emirates emphasized the role of the private sector in building momentum behind a fragile economy and instilling hope in the people of the region. This sentiment resonated with young people seeking change and open to direct appeals from their Arab neighbors. The plans discussed offered a path to relevance and effectiveness, empowering them to move beyond the default position of "refugee" and embrace a more positive communal identity.

The Bahrain Conference, despite its controversies and mixed reactions, served as a platform for fostering hope and exploring new possibilities for peace and prosperity in the region. It provided a much-needed counter to the growing cynicism and dismay caused by the failures of Israeli and Palestinian political leadership. While the outcomes of the conference may have been uncertain, the spirit of hope that it projected offered a glimmer of optimism for the future.

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