From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Aix Group
Aix Group
Aix Group
Steering Committee
The work of the Aix Group is directed by a steering com-
mittees whose members include:[4]
• Prof. Gilbert Benhayoun (Director of the CEREFI,
Université Paul Cézanne-Aix-Marseille III, and
chairman of the Aix Group)
• Mr Saeb Bamya (Former Deputy Minister of National
Economy in the Palestinian Authority and
Palestinian Coordinator of the Aix Group)
Aix Group logo • Prof. Arie Arnon (Prof. of Economics at Ben Gurion
University and Israeli coordinator of the Aix Group)
Founder(s) Gilbert Benhayoun, Arie Arnon, Saeb Bamya • Dr. Ron Pundak (Director General, The Peres Center
for Peace)
Type NGO
• Dr. Samir Hazboun (Executive Director, DATA Center
Founded 2002 for Studies and Research)
Location Aix-Marseille University, Israel, Palestine
Key Ron Pundak, Samir Hazboun
people
Area Israel, Palestinian Territories, Arab World
served
Focus Economic dimensions of the Two-state
solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict
Mission "The Aix Group has followed the peace
process closely over the years, and provides
comprehensive economic studies that assist
in the important task of informing decision
makers regarding the economic implications
Meeting of the Aix Group steering committee. From left to
of their political discussions. The findings
right:Dr. Samir Hazboun,Prof. Arie Arnon, Prof. Gilbert Ben-
serve to provide key decision makers within
the region and internationally with a solid hayoun, Mr. Saeb Bamya, Dr. Ron Pundak.
basis from which to make decisions regarding
final status issues."[1]
Method Publishing of economic research, policy
Previous Publications
advocacy Since its formation in 2002 the Aix Group published a se-
ries of position papers on economic issues related to the
Website www.aixgroup.org
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The aim of the position pa-
pers is to provide policy makers with ’ready-to-use’ eco-
Aix Group is an Israeli-Palestinian-international econom-
nomic policies should a final status agreement between
ic study team hosted by the Université Paul Cézanne-
Israel and the Palestinians be concluded. To date the Aix
Aix-Marseille III in France in coordination with the Peres
Group has published four position papers.[5]
Center for Peace in Israel and DATA Center for Studies
and Research in the Palestinian Authority.[2] Their aim
is to inform policy makers of the economic costs of the
Economic Road Map: An Israeli-Palestin-
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as to provide policy ian Perspective on Permanent Status
makers with economic solutions towards a two-state so- (2004)
lution, and detail how both sides stand to benefit by im- Outlines recommendations for future long-term econom-
proving economic cooperation.[3] ic relations between Israel and Palestine in the following
polict fields: trade, labour, monetary, fiscal and invest-
ment.[5]
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Aix Group
Israel and Palestine: Between Disen- Palestinian Refugees
gagement and the Economic Road Map One of the Aix Group’s ongoing issues relates to the de-
(2005) sign of an economic agreement concerning the Palestin-
Analyzes the risks and benefits of Israel’s unilateral dis- ian refugees. They estimate that a fair package of reset-
engagement plan from Gaza and the West Bank, imple- tlement or rehabilitation for the 4.5m registered refugees
mented by Israel in the summer of 2005. Potential out- would run to between $55 billion and $85 billion[7], the
comes arising from the withdrawal are discussed, as well cost of which would be divided between the UN and the
as its effects on the survival of the Palestinian econo- Israeli and Palestinian governemnets.[3]
my.[5]
Economic Dimensions of a Two-State
Economic Consequences of the
Agreement between Israel and Pales- ongoing Israeli-Palestinian
tine(2007) Conflict
Examination of four key economic issues that need ad- In 2011, in the run-up to the Palestinian bid for statehood
dressing for advancing the two-state solution.[5] at the United Nations the Aix Group published a research
1. Economic Cooperation in Jerusalem[3] paper on the current state of the Palestinian economy
2. Economic Aspects of the Palestinian Refugee Issue[4] and the possible economic outcomes should the Pales-
3. Cooperation in Infrastructure Issues tinian statehood bid succeed or fail (’"September" as a
4. Topics of contemporary importance (i.e. Palestinian Crossroads’). The research was conducted jointly by Is-
labour, development of the Jordan Valley and raeli economists Yitshak Gal and Arie Arnon along with
transitional trade agreements) Palestinian economists Shawqi Makhtoub and Saeb
Bamya.[8]
Economic Dimensions of a Two-State So- Although the Palestinian economy has shown robust
lution Agreement Between Israel and levels of growth since the end of the Second Intifada the
Palestine, Vol II: Supplementary Papers report’s findings highlight the inherent weaknesses of
the Palestinian economy and how the current political
(2010) and economic status quo between Israel and the Pales-
Further examination of five important economic issues tinians remains unsustainable. According to the re-
with respect to peace negotiations between Israelis and searchers, a failure to resume peace negotiations based
Palestinians on the principle of a two-state solution may result in the
1. The comparative political-economic viability of a dangerous transformation of the West Bank into a Gaza-
two-state solution versus a one-state solution style scenario.[8]
2. Economic Aspects of the Palestinian Refugee Issue To date the position paper has been widely comment-
3. The territorial link between Gaza and the West Bank ed upon, both on national Israeli television[9] and in a
4. Economic Development of the Jordan Valley number of Israeli and Palestinian financial publica-
5. The Union for the Mediterranean (EU-MED) tions.[8][10][11]
Territorial Link Between Gaza Links to Publications
and the West Bank • Economic Road Map: An Israeli-Palestinian
Perspective on Permanent Status (2004)
Israelis and Palestinians have agreed in principle to the
• Israel and Palestine: Between Disengagement and the
creation of a link between the West Bank and the Gaza
Economic Road Map (2005)
Strip, referred to as a "permanent safe passage" by Bill
• Economic Dimensions of a Two-State Agreement
Clinton in the 2000 Clinton Parameters.[6]
Between Israel and Palestine (2007)
The Aix Group has offered proposals on the design
• Economic Dimensions of a Two-State Agreement
and cost of a territorial link between the Gaza Strip and
Between Israel and Palestine, Vol II: Supplementary
the West Bank. They recommned the construction of a
Papers (2010)
joint motorway and rail link between the Karni Crossing
• "September" as a Crossroads: An Opportunity for a
in the Gaza Strip and El Majed Crossing on the West Bank.
Two-State Solution and the Risks of the Status Quo
They estimate the cost of the project up to $1 billion[3],
and Esclataion (2011)
to be financed by the World Bank as a long term loan to
Palestine.
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Aix Group
References http://www.theatlantic.com/international/
archive/2011/10/how-to-connect-the-west-bank-
[1] Aix Group. "About Us". http://www.aixgroup.org/ and-gaza-strip/247475/.
about.html. [7] Economist, The. "The Palestinians: The wandering
[2] "Team of Palestinian, Israeli, international experts Palestinian". http://www.economist.com/node/
present economic findings to French foreign 11332217. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
minister". Ma’an News Agency. 02/15/2008. [8] ^ Rubinstein, Dani (September 19 2011). "The
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ Financial Apocalypse of the Palestinian Authority".
ViewDetails.aspx?ID=201203. Calcalist. http://www.calcalist.co.il/local/articles/
[3] ^ Dwoskin, Elizabeth (August 11, 2011). "Trying to 0,7340,L-3532180,00.html.
Put a Price on Middle East Peace". Bloomberg [9] "( "לונדון את קירשנבאוםin Hebrew). Nana 10.
Businessweek. http://www.businessweek.com/ September 22, 2011. http://lnk.nana10.co.il/
printer/magazine/trying-to-put-a-price-on- Article/?ArticleID=832603.
middle-east-peace-08112011.html. [10] Nissan, Yossi (September 20, 2011). "Research: The
[4] ^ Golan, Neta (December 6, 1007). "A Generous Political Status Quo will lead to lead to Violent
Offer?". Counterpunch. Confrontation with the Palestinians" (in Hebrew).
http://www.counterpunch.org/2007/12/06/a- Globus. http://www.globes.co.il/news/
generous-offer/. article.aspx?did=1000684198.
[5] ^ "L’économie israélienne. Les dimensions [11] "استحقاق أيلول فرصة فريدة إلنقاذ حل الدولتين ومنع مخاطر ال
économiques d’un accord entre Israël et la ( "يمكن تحملهاin Arabic). Al-Ayyam. September 15,
Palestine" (in French). Fondation Res Publica. June 2011. http://www.al-ayyam.com/
16, 2008. http://www.fondation-res-publica.org/L- article.aspx?did=174755&date=.
economie-israelienne-Les-dimensions-
economiques-d-un-accord-entre-Israel-et-la-
Palestine_a318.html.
External links
[6] Rothem, Dan (October 27, 2011). "How to Connect • Aix Group
the West Bank and Gaza Strip". The Atlantic. • The Peres Center for Peace
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aix_Group&oldid=467376821"
Categories:
• Non-governmental organizations involved in the Israeli–Palestinian peace process
• Israeli–Palestinian joint economic efforts
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