| Founder(s) | Gilbert Benhayoun, Arie Arnon, Saeb Bamya |
|---|---|
| Type | NGO |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Location | Aix-Marseille University, Israel, Palestine |
| Key people | Ron Pundak, Samir Hazboun |
| Area served | Israel, Palestinian Territories, Arab World |
| Focus | Economic dimensions of the Two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict |
| Mission | "The Aix Group has followed the peace process closely over the years, and provides comprehensive economic studies that assist in the important task of informing decision makers regarding the economic implications of their political discussions. The findings serve to provide key decision makers within the region and internationally with a solid basis from which to make decisions regarding final status issues."[1] |
| Method | Publishing of economic research, policy advocacy |
| Website | www.aixgroup.org |
Aix Group is an Israeli-Palestinian-international economic study team hosted by the Université Paul Cézanne-Aix-Marseille III in France in coordination with the Peres Center for Peace in Israel and DATA Center for Studies and Research in the Palestinian Authority.[2] Their aim is to inform policy makers of the economic costs of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as to provide policy makers with economic solutions towards a two-state solution, and detail how both sides stand to benefit by improving economic cooperation.[3]
The work of the Aix Group is directed by a steering committees whose members include:[4]
Since its formation in 2002 the Aix Group published a series of position papers on economic issues related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The aim of the position papers is to provide policy makers with 'ready-to-use' economic policies should a final status agreement between Israel and the Palestinians be concluded. To date the Aix Group has published four position papers.[5]
Outlines recommendations for future long-term economic relations between Israel and Palestine in the following polict fields: trade, labour, monetary, fiscal and investment.[5]
Analyzes the risks and benefits of Israel's unilateral disengagement plan from Gaza and the West Bank, implemented by Israel in the summer of 2005. Potential outcomes arising from the withdrawal are discussed, as well as its effects on the survival of the Palestinian economy.[5]
Examination of four key economic issues that need addressing for advancing the two-state solution.[5]
Further examination of five important economic issues with respect to peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians
Israelis and Palestinians have agreed in principle to the creation of a link between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, referred to as a "permanent safe passage" by Bill Clinton in the 2000 Clinton Parameters.[6]
The Aix Group has offered proposals on the design and cost of a territorial link between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. They recommned the construction of a joint motorway and rail link between the Karni Crossing in the Gaza Strip and El Majed Crossing on the West Bank. They estimate the cost of the project up to $1 billion[3], to be financed by the World Bank as a long term loan to Palestine.
One of the Aix Group’s ongoing issues relates to the design of an economic agreement concerning the Palestinian refugees. They estimate that a fair package of resettlement or rehabilitation for the 4.5m registered refugees would run to between $55 billion and $85 billion[7], the cost of which would be divided between the UN and the Israeli and Palestinian governemnets.[3]
In 2011, in the run-up to the Palestinian bid for statehood at the United Nations the Aix Group published a research paper on the current state of the Palestinian economy and the possible economic outcomes should the Palestinian statehood bid succeed or fail ('"September" as a Crossroads'). The research was conducted jointly by Israeli economists Yitshak Gal and Arie Arnon along with Palestinian economists Shawqi Makhtoub and Saeb Bamya.[8]
Although the Palestinian economy has shown robust levels of growth since the end of the Second Intifada the report’s findings highlight the inherent weaknesses of the Palestinian economy and how the current political and economic status quo between Israel and the Palestinians remains unsustainable. According to the researchers, a failure to resume peace negotiations based on the principle of a two-state solution may result in the dangerous transformation of the West Bank into a Gaza-style scenario.[8]
To date the position paper has been widely commented upon, both on national Israeli television[9] and in a number of Israeli and Palestinian financial publications.[8][10][11]