ABSTRACT
Why has the peace process between the Israelis and Palestinians failed? What can be done to promote a better future? The literature in International Relations (IR) theory yields numerous realist, liberal, and eclectic mechanisms for transition from war to peace, some of which have been applied to the conflict. Two prominent realist mechanisms that are concerned with transition from war to peace are ‘common threat’ and great-power intervention (Walt 1987; Miller 2000: 55–73; 2007, 62–63). However, there is no common enemy in this case, and considerable Israeli lobby influence prevents the United States from being able to act in a manner that could promote stability (Mearsheimer and Walt 2007).
