Chronic Failure Without Accountability: International Peacekeeping and Security Forces in the Arab-Israeli Conflict

Introduction
The U.S. and other international actors have become increasingly insistent on having a governance plan for “the day after” the Gaza War. Washington seems to be pushing for a United Nations or some other multinational security force after Israel defeats Hamas, as a “transitional” step to turning over the territory to the Palestinian Authority, led by Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah party.

However, an examination of past UN and multinational missions and structures reveals that they have consistently lacked the will and means to provide security or ensure peace. In the Middle East, these missions have proven to be futile, and in the rare cases where they were effective, they served the aggressor rather than regional or international peace. It can therefore be concluded that such a UN or multi-lateral mission cannot be trusted to provide security for Israel or prevent the threat of terror from Gaza.