Research & Publication

One component of the project is conducting evidence-based research on the feasibility and po­tential benefits of different aspects of a two-state solution and creating an online repository of resources and research findings that inform stakeholders, policy debates and strategies aimed at fostering a (two-state) solution. In 2025, three research papers/policy briefs – were published.

This policy brief reviews and assesses the history of the nu­merous peace initiatives that have been launched since the early 1990s in an effort to resolve the Israeli-Palestin­ian con­flict and to establish a framework for coexistence. None of them – from the Madrid Middle East Peace Con­ference and the Oslo process to the Annapolis Conference and subse­quent negotiations – succeeded in ending the oc­cupation and providing a lasting and just solution. Instead, each at­tempt offered moments of both cautious optimism and deep disillusionment. This re­search paper provides a historical overview of key peace processes, examining their objectives, achievements, and the persistent obstacles that have under­mined their success. It includes an­nexes for reference in ta­ble form: a) an overview table summarizing Palestinian and Israeli per­spectives on the failures of the various attempts at peace, and b) a table comparing the different peace efforts by items such main goal, participation, achievement, pitfalls and impact.

Public attitudes among Palestinians and Israelis toward the two-state solution have fluctuated over time, though gen­erally not in extreme ways. While it has consistently re­mained the most preferred option among alternatives, there has been a clear trend of declining support, which is largely attributed to a growing belief that the two-state so­lution is no longer feasible – a sentiment reflected in nu­merous relevant surveys. Several regular polls are con­ducted separately in Palestine and Israel, with a few sur­veying both populations jointly. This review focuses on those polls that somewhat regularly examine public opin­ion on the two-state solu­tion on both the Palestinian side and the Israeli side. This review of public opinion on the two-state solution gives an insight into the changing level of support, concerns and potential obstacles and helps understand circumstances when support for peace efforts was high or low. Thus, it can indicate which actions Israeli and Palestinian lead­ers and peoples should pursue or avoid to increase sup­port for the two-state solution, as well as which strategies and outreach efforts may be worth replicating or reconsidering