Petr Lyukimson, Israel. Exclusively to VK
The Academic College of the Israeli city of Netania began a unique project of the EU in the sphere of political futurology. Leading historians, lawyers, economists, and political scientists of Israel, Palestine Autonomy, and Jordan try to answer the question on what consequences for the Middle East region can be caused by establishing of the Palestinian state.
Five working groups will be formed. Each group will include representatives of both sides. First group will deal with the problem of influence of the new state appearance on the military and strategic balance in the Middle East and on relations between countries. Second group is focused on changes in the economic situation in Israel and Jordan. Third group will try to predict socio-demographic processes.
“It wasn’t easy to gather 15 scientists for this project,” the press service of the college told VK. “We had no problems with Israeli experts, but negotiations with Arab colleagues ran over. Some of Jordanian and Palestinian scientists who were ready to join the project received open threats directed against them. Others stated they were doubt in independence of the research because it is organized by the Israeli side. It was even stated that we had organized the research to prove that the Palestinian state wouldn’t bring anything good for the region and the world. Then the administration of the college guaranteed the Arab scientists that the research is aimed at scientific objectives, and if members of this or that group are not managed to develop a common point of view, it will be reflected in the final report. At the moment all these organizational difficulties fell behind. First meeting of the project participants took place. It is planned such meetings to take plans monthly.”
Netania college doesn’t hide that this project might propose a new model for settlement of other regional conflicts. Perhaps such conflicts should be settled first of all by meetings of intellectuals of the confronting sides.
