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

Abstract: 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.