Engagement Through Disengagement: Gaza and the Potential for Renewed Israeli-Palestinian Peacemaking

How can Washington take advantage of the narrow window of opportunity afforded by the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza? David Makovsky argues that reactivating the peace process may depend on concerted, U.S.-led efforts to ensure a viable ceasefire, confront rejectionists, craft sound economic policies for Gaza, and garner Arab support. Supplemented with detailed maps and key documents, this study shows how successful disengagement can reaffirm faith in peacemaking by emboldening Palestinian moderates and shattering entrenched Israeli taboos.