Cory Carbone

Dr. Guenzel
ENC 1102: Composition II
Due: May 28
th
/ Submitted: June 10
th

Research Dossier: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and Peace Process
Dossier Introduction
-Provide a research question and if possible a preliminary description of the argument:
For my Research, the main question I will be asking is what is the current situation of
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and ongoing Peace Process? As well as what are the
outlooks from the three perspectives I will be researching in the governments of the
United States of America, The European Union, and The United Nations. In its most
basic form, the preliminary argument posed to all three of the perspectives, is what
actions will be required in their own views to create a lasting peace between the two
entities in conflict? On a subsidiary level, with that question being posed to anyone who
has a vested interest or curiosity in the matter asked, the second question will inevitably
be what does each of the three outside perspectives have at stake with the outcome of any
future peace agreement? Essentially, this is the basis of my argument I will be making in
my Research Paper and Presentation to the class as my audience next week.
-Provide a context for your research project:
It goes without saying that my context with this Research Paper is myself as a Student
in this Composition II class presenting my argument findings to my colleagues and
fellow students in a TED Talk format. On a personal level, I specifically chose the topic I
did because I have a deep connection with the subject matter and argument being posed. I
travel to Israel and the Palestinian Territories on a frequent basis to pursue Judaic studies,
usually visiting both every winter and summer break. As a Jew I have always had a
sincere stake in Peace between these two adversaries, and seeing that a lasting settlement
is eventually reached. I follow daily the news coming out of this region and thus I have
very good background knowledge of the past, the present, and of course hopes for what
the future may hold. Going deeper than this, I also have many friends on both sides of the
conflict and have always been fascinated by their appeals, thoughts and rhetoric, which I
have heard.
Aside from the personal dimension of why I chose to write about this topic with the
Writing Space, which I have been given, I have also asked myself many times what the
major players in brokering peace are doing and plan to do? With this thought in mind, I
jumped at the chance to conduct research for this when given this project as a convenient
opportunity. As far as my audience is concerned, I will assume the position that most if
not all of my classmates have at least a little background insight into what my topic
means. Yet what matters most to me in conveying my message to them is why this
situation is an important one to their interests and also what the consequences might be
given the circumstances.
- Show how the sources listed under the annotated bibliography help answer the research
question above or cluster the sources to show various perspectives on the issue:
For my research, I have three different perspectives on the topic of the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict. Our own nation The United States of America, The European Union,
and The United Nations as previously stated. Out of the twenty sources I have compiled
from my Digital Paper Trail, the distribution is six sources showing the European Union
perspective, five sources showing the United States perspective, two sources showing
the United Nations perspective as well as three from the Israeli-Palestinian camp and an
additional four which are what I consider to be neutral sources from scholars or writers
who have no side to represent. From the twenty sources I collected and chose, I felt that
they provided me with enough background context and information to put together at
least the first rough draft of the Research Paper. Going along with these sources, will
inevitably come additional sources later during the writing process as I browse for ideas
and thoughts.
Dealing with the question of how will these sources help answer the research question,
what matters most is that I have every major component represented. After all, my
research question is what have my three perspectives done to aid in the peace process and
help deflate the conflict between Israel and Palestine. I also made it a point to diversify
my source types and not just use a bunch of the same. I have utilized film documentaries,
academic papers in journals, and books on the subject, primary sources, as well as
historical texts.
Research Map
-Research Question / Thesis:
Where does the peace process presently stand between Israel and the Palestinians,
and what positions and plans have the three major observers The United States, The
European Union, and The United Nations taken to help secure a settlement and put an
end to the ongoing conflict?
-Field Research / Internet / Library:
The breakdown of my Sources does not involve any field research or personal
interviewing as there is not enough time in the Summer A Semester to effectively
accomplish anything substantial. That said, all twenty of my sources were found using
the Internet on either the search engine Google or with the UCF Library Database. Going
off of the Internet, the majority of sources were retrieved using the UCF Library
Database and Catalog system called One Search.
-Keywords (list of ones actually used):
Israel United States Terrorism Abbas
Palestine European Union I.D.F. Camp David
Conflict Oslo Accords Middle East Arafat
Peace Settlement Jerusalem Obama Hamas
United Nations Ramallah Netanyahu Hezbollah
-Timetable (Revised):

Monday, May 19
th
; Research Map

Wednesday, May 21
st
; LIBRARY INSTRUCTION with COMPOSITION CLASS from
12:00 to 1:50 p.m. EVENT: ORLANDO CITY S.C. v. CHARLOTTE EAGLES
SOCCER GAME

Thursday, May 22
nd
; Digital Paper trail
EVENT: TRIP TO BRADENTON for MEMORIAL DAY
WEEKEND

Friday, May 23
rd
; EVENT: ORLANDO CITY S.C. v. A.S. ROMA INTERNATIONAL
FRIENDLY SOCCERGAME

Sunday, May 25
th
; EVENT: RETURN from BRADENTON MEMORIAL DAY
WEEKEND

Wednesday, May 28
th
; Workshop Draft Research Dossier
EVENT: ORLANDO CITY S.C. v. TAMPA BAY ROWDIES
U.S. OPEN CUP SOCCER GAME

Thursday, May 29
th
; Final Draft Research Dossier

Friday, May 30
th
; EVENT: COCOA BEACH TRIP

Saturday, May 31
st
; EVENT: ORLANDO CITY S.C. v. CHARLESTON BATTERY
SOCCER GAME

Wednesday, June 4
th
; Workshop Draft Rhetorical Analysis

Thursday, June 5
th
; Final Draft Rhetorical Analysis

Friday, June 6
th
; EVENT: MIAMI TRIP TO VISIT FRATERNITY CHAPTER AT
F.I.U.

Monday, June 7
th
; Pitch your Research to Get People Excited About Your TED Talk
EVENT: ORLANDO CITY S.C. v. MONTREAL IMPACT
RESERVES SOCCER GAME

Sunday, June 8
th
; EVENT: RETURN FROM MIAMI TRIP BACK TO ORLANDO

Wednesday, June 11
th
; Workshop Draft 1 Research Paper
EVENT: ORLANDO CITY S.C. v. ORANGE COUNTY
BLUES SOCCER GAME

Monday, June 16
th
; Workshop Draft 2 Research Paper

Tuesday, June 17
th
; Final Draft Argumentative Research Paper

Thursday, June 19
th
, TED Talks 6/18 & 6/19
E-Portfolios

RESEARCH DATES: (Will be conducted mainly at the U.C.F. Library)

Monday, May 26
th
to Thursday, May 29
th
in the Afternoon

Monday, June 2
nd
to Thursday, June 5
th
in the Afternoon

Monday, June 9
th
to Thursday, June 12
th
in the Afternoon

Monday, June 16
th
to Tuesday, June 17
th
in the Afternoon

Annotated Bibliography

*For my Annotated Bibliography, I have chosen what I feel are the three most important
sources for each of the three perspectives to provide further in depth detail on:
PERSPECTIVE #1 THE EUROPEAN UNION / EUROPE
1). Europes Palestine Problem
Miller, R. Europe's Palestine Problem. Foreign Affairs, 90, 8-12.
In this paper written for the Foreign Affairs Journal by Rory Miller, he makes the case
that the European Union is playing what he calls a second fiddle role to that of The
United States in the peace process and negotiations between Israel and Palestine. Yet
despite this detail, he mentions this conflict as being one of the European Unions top
priorities on their foreign affairs docket handled by their External Action service. Mainly
because as the European Unions High Representative Catherine Ashton stated, European
security is impacted by Middle East peace and security in turn!
Additionally he also makes the case that one of the reasons the European Union is
currently playing second fiddle to America is due to the fact that like the United States,
the E.U. is a Federation. The only difference is that unlike the United States where there
is one government with fifty States, the E.U. is a Confederation of almost 27 National
Governments who cannot agree on anything and hence cannot convince the Israelis and
Palestinians to let them play the mediator role.
2). E.U. positions on the Middle East Peace Process

EU Positions on the Middle East Peace Process. (2014, January 1). . Retrieved June 8,
2014, from http://www.eeas.europa.eu/mepp/eu-positions/eu_positions_en.htm
This document is directly from the European Union External Action Services
website, and plainly states their Organizations up to date positions on the conflict and
peace process. More importantly, it also states their stances on a final settlement between
Israel and Palestine on crucial issues such as Borders, Security, Israeli Settlements and
Palestinian Refugees. Giving a great insight on the fine print the European Union wishes
to see happen, implemented and discussed during potential future talks. Furthermore this
webpage provides numerous other links to statements issued on this matter by their
Government.
3). Council Conclusions on the Middle East Peace Process

Council Conclusions on the Middle East Peace Process. (2014, May 12). . Retrieved June
8, 2014, from
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/142555.pdf
Taken from the European Unions website, this document is a sort of Manifesto laying
out nine statements which the E.U. Council in Brussels, Belgium made in regards to the
ongoing peace process and negotiations. Essentially it reiterates that Europe will continue
to provide support and aid to both sides and backs the United States efforts to broker a
deal with the particular help of United States Secretary of State John Kerry.
PERSPECTIVE #2 THE UNITED STATES of AMERICA
1). For the U.S., Israel and Palestine: whats Plan B?

Buss, M. For the U.S., Israel, and Palestine: what's plan B?. The American
Prospect, 25, 50-54.

This article written by Matthew Duss for the Journal The American Prospect makes
the case that without the Two State solution the Israelis and the Palestinians chances for a
lasting peace seem pretty dismal. He further makes the case that despite the Governments
of both trying to make this solution work as well as a vast majority of Israeli and
Palestinian citizens supporting it, the risk of the highly inflamed radical right wing
Nationalist factions on both sides of the Green Line put this at risk. He goes on to say that
what the United States Government and everyone else for that matter is slowly coming to
realize, is that the Status Quo as it stands is not a viable option for the future of the Holy
Land.
2). Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid; by Jimmy Carter
Carter, J. (2006). Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid. New York City, New York: Simon and
Schuster.

Written by former United States President and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Jimmy
Carter, this book gives one mans insight into why there has not yet been a peace
agreement reached between Israel and the Palestinian Authority and lists the barriers he
feels are preventing this from happening. As a primary source he is one of the best on this
situation and historical context. In 1979 he helped broker the first ever peace agreement
between Israel and an Arab Nation, Egypt. Thus solidifying himself in the history of the
Middle East. Though this text is a highly controversial one, it shows what it might take to
achieve a lasting peace such as the one he helped broker with another Arab nation.
3). The Oslo Legacy
Menenberg, A. The Oslo Legacy . World Affairs, 174, 23-30.
In this article by Aaron Menenberg in the World Affairs journal, the author states his
case on why what took place with the Oslo Accords of 1993, which created the first
significant step towards peace between Israel and Palestine, has failed and been negated
by both sides presently. His main argument is that the Oslo Accords were based on a
premise, which was inherently flawed, the idea that the Israelis and Palestinians could
diplomatically negotiate a way towards peace. In the article, he lists eight factors as to
why the Accords have faltered, and states his idea to forge a new path forward in this
conflict.
PERSPECTIVE # 3 THE UNITED NATIONS
1). Secretary-General's message on the International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
Moon, B. K. (2013, November 29). Secretary-General's message on the International Day
of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. . Retrieved June 8, 2014, from
http://www.un.org/sg/statements/?nid=7314
Acting as a Primary source, this statement from the Secretary General of The United
Nations Ban Ki Moon was issued on November 29
th
, 2013 to commemorate Palestinian
International Solidarity Day. In his statement he highlights what the United Nations
wishes to bring to light on this issue for the Palestinian people and to say what his
organizations agenda will be to help remedy this situation. The article is admittedly
biased in that he is only highlighting the plight of the Palestinian people and does not
show the other side for the Israelis. Yet I still find it a valuable source to see where the
United Nations stands.
2). Threat, Victimhood, and Peace: Debating the 2011 Palestinian UN State
Membership Bid
Jaspal, R., & Coyle, A. Threat, Victimhood, and Peace: Debating the 2011 Palestinian
UN State Membership Bid. D.O.M.E.S "Digest of Middle East Studies". , 23, 190-214.
This article was written by Rusi Jaspal PhD in the Digest of Middle East Studies, and
focuses around the 2011 effort by the Palestinian National Authority to gain recognition
as a non-member State in The United Nations. He mentions the arguments that Israel
gave against admission of Palestine under the terms at the time by Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as remarks by President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine in
support of his Nations bid. His conclusion is that because of what each sides actions
were at the United Nations during this moment, it caused serious damage to the
negotiations, which were being conducted.
3). United Nations Resolution 181; Future Government of Palestine
United Nations Resolution 181; the future government of Palestine. (1947, November
29). . Retrieved June 8, 2014, from
http://unispal.un.org/unispal.nsf/0/7F0AF2BD897689B785256C330061D253
If there was a text, which was the origin of the entire Israeli-Palestinian conflict
through the years up to the present, it is this. The original transcript text and document for
the Partition plan of British Mandatory Palestine from 1947! This agreement set the
precedent for everything, which is being intensely debated and fought over by both sides
word for word and note by note right now. You could say this is the Magna Carta for
present day State of Israel and what could have been the State of Palestine. In a way, this
document acts as sort of a ghost of what could have been had both sides agreed to the
initial brokering by the United Nations. It is a great text for putting everything in
perspective.