Hosted by the Peace and Justice Studies Program, Asha Hagi Elmi Amin will speak on Oct. 8 about the Sixth Clan as READ MORE

The Palestinian Authority has recently stated its intentions to form a de facto Palestinian state with or without the cooperation of Israel within two years. In a newly released 65-page document, significant changes to the Palestinian economy — which is currently being strangled by Israeli polices — and the construction of an international airport in the Jordan Valley are just two of the things outlined as being necessary for the move toward Palestinian statehood.

The Obama Administration is set to unveil its much-anticipated plan for establishing a sustainable peace between Israelis and Palestinians at a pivotal point in the conflict. Among the key points expected to dominate the negotiations are the issues of settlements, the barrier wall, Jerusalem, house demolitions and confiscation of land, Palestinian refugees, access to water and borders.

More than 300,000 Israeli settlers are living in illegal settlements built on Palestinian land, which has been occupied since the War of 1967 when Israel captured the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. International law states that an occupying power cannot transfer its own civilian population to the territory it occupies.