Federalism: Necessary Legal Foundation for the Central Middle Eastern States

The Central Middle East—comprising of Syria, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and Jordan—is in need of a legal foundation defined by a constitutional umbrella that governs it as a whole. This is a proposed broad structure of such legal foundation that serves regional legal and economic needs and includes recognition of human rights. The need for such restructuring is evident from the persistence of regional conflict and instability. Conflict and instability have been constants in the region in general and certainly in the listed five states. The issues include political instability, terrorism, continuous threats of fundamentalism, and pervasive disregard to human life and human rights. Israel has had strife with all the four neighboring peoples and states. Meanwhile, political instability either reigns or undermines each of these neighboring states. This article does not attempt to argue the correctness or fairness of what manifested in the first half of the 20th century; it does, however, argue that the political structure and how it continues to be is part of the reason for the conflicts and the instability. * Member and practicing attorney with the Maryland State Bar. I am in debt to Dean John C. Brittain, Professor of Law and former Acting Dean with the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, and colleague Patricia Shnell, for their support, assistance, and invaluable advice, without which this research and manuscript would not have been completed. I must acknowledge the Pace International Law Review editing team, in particular Ms. Emily Golban, for their tireless work.