Israel, Palestine and a just peace (RJ 2025: Justice)

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of the most protracted and complex conflicts of our time, deeply rooted in historical and political divisions. Over time, it has evolved into a multifaceted geopolitical struggle that also impacts global politics. At its core, the conflict is a battle over territory and national self-determination, but questions of identity, justice and legitimacy are equally central to its dynamics.

Diverging historical narratives have created a deep divide between Israelis and Palestinians. Demands for justice, recognition and legitimacy continue to fuel the conflict, yet justice must be a cornerstone of any sustainable resolution.

In 2025, Riksbankens Jubileumsfond is publishing a collection of essays on the theme of Justice. Political scientist Karin Aggestam writes about justice in peacetime, and its complications.

Karin Aggestam is Professor of Political Science and director of the Centre for Advanced Middle Eastern Studies at Lund University. She is also an honorary professor at the University of Queensland and an adjunct professor at Monash University, Australia. Aggestam's main area of research is international relations, specialising in peace, conflict, diplomacy and foreign policy. Her regional specialisation is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Middle East politics. Her most recent international publications include a special issue of the Hague Journal of Diplomacy, "Advancing A New Research Agenda on Digital Disruption in Diplomacy" (2024), and the books The Politics of Feminist Foreign Policy and Digital Diplomacy (2024) and Feminist Foreign Policy Analysis: A New Subfield (2024).