Peace process

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The peace process describes efforts by interested parties to effect a lasting solution to long-running conflicts, such as the Northern Ireland peace process see Belfast Agreement, Arab-Israeli conflict and Peace process in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In the Middle East, various solutions have been offered, and some tried. Jimmy Carter, Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat worked together to create an official peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, which ended the formal state of war between the two nations as a result of the Camp David Accords (1978). The Oslo accords was a later framework between the Palestinian Authority and the State of Israel.

Many groups and individuals have created projects working for peace among Israelis and Arabs, most of which have as one of their goals overcoming religious prejudice.

The usage of the term "peace process" is often criticized as being in an improper context to the given situation. Osama bin Laden has referred to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process as a "capitulation process". Left wing critics like Noam Chomsky argue that the history of US involvement in the Middle East discredits the idea that what may be taking place is an authentic "peace process":

Any discussion of what is called a "peace process," whether the one underway at Camp David or any other, should keep in mind the operative meaning of the phrase —by definition, the "peace process" is whatever the US government happens to be pursuing." 1

After the eruption of the al-Aqsa Intifada and wave of mass suicide bombings the Israeli usage in term "peace process" have decreased significantly. A more neutral Hebrew term " התהליך המדיני " ("The international political process") is used by the Israeli media, where "peace process" is often used in irony.