The Madrid Conference and the Washington Process (1991–1993): A Regional Framework for Resolving the Arab-Israeli Conflict

This paper analyzes the establishment of the Madrid/Washington process, and how the US created a regional framework aimed at solving the Arab–Israeli conflict in its entirety. Core to that structure was the fact that US Secretary of State James Baker had resolved the question of Palestinian participation and secured extra-regional support (the Soviet Union, the UN and the EC). The bilateral negotiations were aimed at solving all the individual conflicts between Israel and the Arab states, whilst the multilateral processes were meant to integrate the region, securing peace dividends and enticing the parties to stay on board despite difficulties in the bilateral negotiations. I argue that while the US was able to get the parties to the table and create this advanced regional framework, it was not able to convert that structure into a major diplomatic breakthrough.