The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict: Palestinian Officials’ Perspective on the George W. Bush Administration’s Intervention

Successive US administrations, including that of George W. Bush, have not recognized Palestinian interests and demands. The Bush administration initially showed a lack of serious intent to intervene in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and had a negative position toward the Palestinians and their interests. However, subsequent Bush administration mediation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict gained the Palestinians’ acceptance. This essay investigates the motivations and reasons behind the Palestinian officials’ endorsement of the mediation. The researchers conducted 6 face-to- face interviews and 112 structured interviews with senior Palestinians, including negotiators, security officials, political leaders, parliamentarians, academicians, and experts in the field.