174: Ghaith al-Omari, Palestinian Authority negotiator: “I believe in Palestinian justice through statehood. I also think Jews deserve the state they have now"

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I was in Brussels as the European Jewish Association gathered experts together from all backgrounds to discuss Middle East post October 7th.

In between sessions in the hotel conference centre, I found myself outside the entrance with Ghaith al-Omari, taking in the fresh air and we started talking. 

Sporting a blue pinstripe suit, Bohemian ponytail and smoking what looked like a Gitanes, Ghaith and I drummed up a chat that moved onto the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, which he was involved in. 

As part of the Palestinian Authority, he advised the negotiating team during the permanent-status negotiations for two years from 1999, including the Camp David summit and the Taba talks.

It broke down, as we know, but then he helped draft the Geneva Initiative, an unofficial model aimed at a modified resolution.

He’s now a Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute, where he continues to provide insights on Palestinian politics, Middle East diplomacy, and the U.S.-Israel Strategic Relationship.

With his easygoing manner, I felt I could ask Ghaith any question, which I did, as I wondered how big will the peace industry grow while we wait for the world’s most intractable war to finish?

Jonny Gould's Jewish State is proudly supported by Dangoor Education and UK Toremet, promoting philanthropy.

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