The peace process and the politics of conflict resolution

The application of conventional Western conflict resolution mechanisms has resulted in the removal of the justice principle from the Arab-Israeli conflict. Analysis of the Middle East peace process shows that the shift from closed agenda to an open agenda may be more deleterious in this case. Likewise, the transition from a justice-driven entitlement-benefits matrix to a utility-driven cost-benefits matrix may only lead to issue transformation and the regression of goals.