ND Expert: New Mideast peace talks could lead to conflict within Israeli, Palestinian governments | News | Notre Dame News | University of Notre Dame Skip To Content Skip To Navigation Skip To Search University of Notre Dame Notre Dame News Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Home Contact Search Menu Home › News › ND Expert: New Mideast peace talks could lead to conflict within Israeli, Palestinian governments ND Expert: New Mideast peace talks could lead to conflict within Israeli, Palestinian governments Published: September 02, 2010 Author: Shannon Roddel Today’s summit at the White House with the Israeli prime minister, Palestinian president and President Obama is important, not because it would lead to a Palestinian-Israeli peace deal -very few believe that,” says Asher Kaufman, associate professor of history and peace studies at the University of Notre Dame, “but because the talks that will be launched soon thereafter would force the parties to officially present their positions on the bones of contention: mutual recognition, boundaries, Jerusalem, refugees, security and water, among others.” The Palestinians are divided between Hamas in Gaza and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, and Kaufman, who specializes in the Arab-Israeli conflict, says in Israel, the current coalition government is the most right-wing Israel has ever had. “Any progress in the negotiations could lead to its break-up,” he says. “The talks could bring into political crisis both communities and could reveal the extent of seriousness of the parties to reach a compromise.” Beyond the disagreements over core issues, Kaufman says there are pressing problems that can only be addressed domestically by Israelis and Palestinians themselves, so launching the peace talks could potentially do that as well. “The talks could expose the question of feasibility of reaching an agreement in this day and age,” he says. “Discussing borders is an important part of the negotiations, but it could only be effective if there is genuine agreement on both sides that the way to resolve the conflict is through territorial compromise. Right now, there are strong Israeli and Palestinian forces that disagree even over this issue.” A member of the Notre Dame faculty since 2005, Kaufman previously taught at Hebrew University in Jerusalem and served as a research fellow at the Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace, leading its Middle East Unit. Media Advisory: Kaufman’s comments may be used in whole or in part. He is available for interviews and can be reached at 574-631-8213 or kaufman.15@nd.edu. Posted In: International Home Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Related September 30, 2022 Nanovic Institute to welcome former President of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović September 29, 2022 Notre Dame, Ukrainian Catholic University launch three new research grants September 27, 2022 Notre Dame, Trinity College Dublin engineers join to advance novel treatment for cystic fibrosis September 14, 2022 Apostolic nuncio to Great Britain to deliver the 2022 Keeley Vatican Lecture September 12, 2022 Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street … in different countries? For the Media Contact Office of Public Affairs and Communications Notre Dame News 500 Grace Hall Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Pinterest © 2022 University of Notre Dame Search Mobile App News Events Visit Accessibility Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn