The epic behind-the-scenes story of the United States’ 30-year effort to secure peace in the Middle East. Recounted from the unique perspective of the American mediators on the frontlines.
For more than a century, Jews and Arabs have disputed and fought over the same narrow strip of land in the Middle East. In modern times, the enduring conflict continues, posing a major threat to world peace, while at the same time leaving Palestinians stateless, living under Israeli military occupation. Directed by Dror Moreh, “The Human Factor” relates a tale of missed opportunities for the prospect of lasting peace in the region.
The story begins with the end of the Cold War in 1991 when the United States became the single global superpower – thus raising the stakes for Middle East security and stability, linked as they were to American interests. This documentary provides a fascinating retrospective view of efforts by Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton to take on the role of peacemaker in the Middle East during the 1990s. In a bid to further reinforce its hegemony, the United States set a course to broker a deal between Israel and its Arab neighbors.
From the start, the art of negotiation is on full display. Mediators use empathy as the means to walk in someone else’s shoes – a critical element for successful negotiation. As a starting point, the negotiator attempts to get each side to agree on the reality of the situation. Then, both parties must understand that they will each have to give up something.
The film lays out its narrative largely through the eyes of the brokers in the trenches. These include Gamal Helal, Martin Indyk, Daniel Kurtzer, Robert Malley, Aaron David Miller, and Dennis Ross. They explain how much words matter because different cultures ascribe their own meaning to them. Eskimos, for example, have many more expressions for snow than do cultures from warmer climates. Similarly, when the Arabs talk about the future, they are actually seeking to address the injustices of the past – and only after that can progress be made. Western cultures, by contrast, talk about the future in terms of moving forward from the present and mostly forgetting about the historical grievances. This often unspoken chasm manifests itself repeatedly during the talks.
Starting with Bush’s Secretary of State James Baker – who also served as White House Chief of Staff and Secretary of the Treasury under President Reagan – the negotiators describe his ability to manipulate the levers of power. This came easily for him in part because of his longstanding and close association with the president, but also because of the unique position of the U.S. at the time.
After the end of the cold war, it was difficult for any country to say no to the United States. After early visits to the Middle East, Baker began to get a notion that he could achieve a breakthrough in the region. Despite initial rebuffs from Israel and Syria, Baker persevered and brought both countries into discussions.
Further complicating matters was Israel’s refusal to recognize Yasser Arafat, chairman of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, as a negotiation partner. Instead, others were designated as proxies, though strictly unofficial representatives. In order to push past this, Baker employed a host of negotiating tactics to move the now three sides closer to agreement. He urged the Palestinians to understand that they had more to lose than anyone else.
Remarkably, despite the obstacles, the Bush administration succeeding in bringing the Arabs and Israelis together in an unprecedented fashion by overseeing the signing of the Oslo Accords – a set of important, aspirational peace agreements. Unfortunately, the Oslo documents only outlined principles and proposed approaches – the hard work still remained to be done.
Unexpectedly in 1992, Yitzhak Rabin replaced Yitzhak Shamir as prime minister for Israel. The new leader brought forward a more proactive stance with regard to negotiating with the Arabs. Along the same lines, Bill Clinton won an upset U.S. election over George Bush. Time and again, election cycles brought with them the potential for new personalities to shake things up, for good or ill.
The ups and downs of the protracted discussions and brinksmanship are brought to light thoughtfully and clearly in the course of the film’s runtime. In the end, Arafat’s refusal to accept the terms for a Palestinian homeland came down to Israel’s control of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in old Jerusalem, the third holiest site in Islam. It was a condition he simply couldn’t accept, much to the chagrin of everyone.
Now in hindsight, the negotiators clearly believe that a comprehensive deal with Syria, Palestine, and Lebanon would have changed the dynamic of the Middle East and avoided much bloodshed. As Aaron Miller says somewhat ruefully near the end, “We saw the world the way we wanted it to be. Not the way it was.” The failure of the summit in the final days of the Clinton administration set the stage for ongoing conflict that continues to this day.
The documentary makes good use of archival still shots and footage of the actual participants, maintaining a keen sense of urgency throughout. Expertly chronicled, “The Human Factor” brings to life a compelling slice of Middle East history.
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