Israeli-Palestinian Negotiating PartnersHistory
OVER THE LAST DECADE, the notion that a two-state solution will define the ultimate settlement between Israelis and Palestinians has received broad support. Knowing "what" the solution may look like in general, however, has not translated into an effective negotiation process to generate an agreement. Indeed, the process has chronically been plagued by structural and operational failures that have resulted in frustration and violence.
In response to the failure of Camp David II, a group of Israeli and Palestinian negotiators turned to Professor Roger Fisher, renowned negotiation process expert, and Dr. Landrum Bolling, a Middle East Expert, to analyze the process and implications of lessons learned.
In their systematic analysis of the process, with the use of interest-based negotiation methodology, the team members identified and jointly prioritized the following critical causes that contributed to procedural limitations and breakdown:
• Over-reliance on Positional Bargaining as the primary negotiation strategy.
• Lack of common negotiation language, analytical framework, tools, and skills.
• Absence of influential and effective mid-level negotiation professionals.
• Breakdown in communication at all levels.
• Extremists on either side hijacking the process.
TO ADDRESS THESE CAUSES and improve the negotiation process, the Harvard Negotiation Project (HNP) and Conflict Management Group (CMG) helped establish in 2001 the Israeli-Palestinian Negotiating Partners (IPNP), based on interest-based negotiation practices that have been instrumental in addressing conflicts around the world for over twenty years. To increase the effectiveness of the Israeli Palestinian negotiations and dialogue process by creating a network of negotiators, developing and disseminating common negotiation tools and methodologies, and encouraging a language and constructive culture of negotiation.
In response to the failure of Camp David II, a group of Israeli and Palestinian negotiators turned to Professor Roger Fisher, renowned negotiation process expert, and Dr. Landrum Bolling, a Middle East Expert, to analyze the process and implications of lessons learned.
In their systematic analysis of the process, with the use of interest-based negotiation methodology, the team members identified and jointly prioritized the following critical causes that contributed to procedural limitations and breakdown:
• Over-reliance on Positional Bargaining as the primary negotiation strategy.
• Lack of common negotiation language, analytical framework, tools, and skills.
• Absence of influential and effective mid-level negotiation professionals.
• Breakdown in communication at all levels.
• Extremists on either side hijacking the process.
TO ADDRESS THESE CAUSES and improve the negotiation process, the Harvard Negotiation Project (HNP) and Conflict Management Group (CMG) helped establish in 2001 the Israeli-Palestinian Negotiating Partners (IPNP), based on interest-based negotiation practices that have been instrumental in addressing conflicts around the world for over twenty years. To increase the effectiveness of the Israeli Palestinian negotiations and dialogue process by creating a network of negotiators, developing and disseminating common negotiation tools and methodologies, and encouraging a language and constructive culture of negotiation.