The document announces a public event discussing the Arab Peace Initiative, ten years after its proposal, and whether it remains a viable option for peace in the Middle East. The event will feature an opening discussion by the vice president of Tel Aviv University and the chairman of the Aix Group, an independent research group composed of Israeli and Palestinian economists. A panel discussion will then be moderated by a chief Arab world correspondent and include former Palestinian ministers, Israeli peace initiative members, and a Hebrew University professor, analyzing the economic benefits that could result from implementing the Arab Peace Initiative.

1. The Lester and Sally Entin Faculty of Humanities
The University Institute
For Diplomacy
And Regional Cooperation
The Aix Group
In Cooperation with
The S. Daniel Abraham Center and the University Institute for Diplomacy and Regional Cooperation
Invite you to a Public Event on the Publication of the Aix Group’s Fifth Stage of Research
The Arab Peace Initiative, Ten Years On:
Is There a Chance for Change?
Monday, April 2, 18:00-20:00
The Malka Brender Hall of Justice (“Kes Hamishpat”), Trubowitz Building, Tel Aviv University
Entrance through Ramniceanu Gate (4), Dr. George Weiss Street
The Arab Peace Initiative of March 2002 represented a historic paradigm shift in the relations between Israel and
the Arab World. So too has the Arab Spring of 2011 reshaped the MENA region, but the political alternatives
facing the Middle East of today are perhaps much less clear. Is the API still a viable option for peace?
The Aix Group has long highlighted the importance of the economy as a parallel track for a political settlement in
the Arab-Israeli conflict. Although the API is clearly not a direct answer to the demands of the demonstrators in
Tahrir Square, Rothschild Avenue and beyond, it can potentially have a powerful impact on some fundamental
structural changes in the MENA region. Come listen to a special panel discussion on the most recent publication
of the Aix Group, which analyzes the economic benefits that may result from the API’s implementation.
Event Agenda
18:00 Opening Remarks
Professor Raanan Rein, Vice President of Tel Aviv University, Head of the S. Daniel Abraham Center
Professor Gilbert Benhayoun, Chairman of the Aix Group
18:15 The Arab Peace Initiative: The Political Economy of a New Period?
Professor Arie Arnon, Van Leer Institute and Ben-Gurion University
18:45 Panel Discussion
Moderator: Smadar Peri, Chief Arab World Correspondent, Yediot Ahronot
Saeb Bamya, former Deputy Minister of National Economy, Palestinian Authority
Dr. Ron Pundak, Co-chair, Israeli-Palestinian Peace NGO Forum
Basem Khoury, former Minister of National Economy, Palestinian Authority
Jacob Perry, Israeli Peace Initiative and former GSS Director
Professor Joseph Zeira, Department of Economics, Hebrew University
The Aix Group is an independent research group composed of leading Israeli and Palestinian
economists who have, since 2002, published numerous position papers on economic aspects of
the Arab-Israeli conflict.
For inquiries please contact: Edan Raviv, e.raviv@peres-center.org, 03-5680630