Robert H. Serry, United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, asserted Monday that the Palestinian Authority is doing well economically and is enjoying stability. However, he said the PA would not survive unless it can turn into a fully fledged state.
“Regarding the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, I must tell you that this too is not ‘all about money’," he said. "Some think that a strong Palestinian economy will be enough to maintain stability in the West Bank, something that is both a Palestinian and an Israeli interest. Indeed, in the last few years we have seen considerable economic growth in the Palestinian territories, and relative stability, including unprecedented security cooperation.
"Yet economic growth alone will not assure a sustainable future. This is because the Palestinian Authority Is quickly, in my view, losing its legitimacy in the eye of the public, if it is not able to bring also the political goal forwards – the creation of a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel in peace and security.
"As we have witnessed lately in the region, no political institution can survive if it rests only on economics and lacks political legitimacy. Without a political path that leads to the creation of a viable Palestinian state that lives side by side with Israel in peace and security, I’m afraid the Palestinian institutions will become unsustainable and eventually collapse."
Serry spoke at the opening ceremony of ISRAMUN 2012 (Israel International Model United Nations) at the College of Management Academic Studies (COMAS) in Rishon LeTzion.