Ghaith al-Omari

Ghaith al-Omari
غياث العمري
Born	1970 or 1971 (age 53–54) Jordan
Nationality	Jordanian-Palestinian
Alma mater	Georgetown University, University of Jordan
Occupation(s)	Senior Fellow, Policy Analyst, Diplomat
Known for	Former Palestinian peace negotiator, Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

Ghaith al-Omari (Arabic: غياث العمري) is a Jordanian-Palestinian policy analyst, diplomat, and Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He previously served as an advisor to the Palestinian Authority during key Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, including the Camp David Summit in 2000 and the Taba Summit in 2001.

Early life and education

Ghaith al-Omari was born in Jordan to a Palestinian family. He pursued higher education at Georgetown University, where he earned a degree in international law, and at Oxford University. Upon graduating, he taught international law in Jordan.

Career

He has played a pivotal role as an advisor to the Palestinian Authority (PA) during key Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. He was part of the Palestinian delegation at the Camp David Summit in 2000 and the Taba Summit in 2001. At Camp David, al-Omari provided critical advice on security and territorial issues, focusing on crafting realistic solutions to challenges surrounding borders, the future of Jerusalem, and the creation of a demilitarized Palestinian state. At the Tabba talks in 2001, al-Omari continued his efforts in promoting a two-state solution. He worked on building consensus among the Palestinian negotiating team.

He was lead drafter of the 2003 Geneva Initiative along with Daniel Levy. In 2005, he was an Adviser for the Office of the President in the Palestinian Authority. In 2007, he was Director for International Relations in the Palestinian Authority

After his diplomatic career, al-Omari became a Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He has been a leading advocate for reforming the PA, highlighting the need for accountability within Palestinian governance structures. Beyond his work at WINEP, al-Omari has been a member of several other research institutions, including the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where he has contributed to discussions on the political realities on the ground. Al-Omari is also a frequent contributor to media outlets such as Foreign Policy and The Atlantic. He has written extensively on the challenges posed by Hamas’s governance of Gaza, arguing that their tactics have failed the Palestinian people and created further international isolation.

Al-Omari has been a consistent critic of both Israeli and Palestinian leaderships for failing to capitalize on moments of opportunity. He has argued that missed chances, particularly at Camp David, have led to worsening conditions on the ground and a growing sense of disillusionment. He has been particularly vocal in his criticism of Palestinian leadership, regarding the failure to enact reforms within the Palestinian Authority. He argues that these failures have led to a disconnection between the leadership and the Palestinian population, with the PA losing credibility among its own people. According to al-Omari, the internal divisions, corruption, and inefficiencies within the PA have hindered progress toward a viable Palestinian state.

Al-Omari is also critical of the use of violent resistance as a political tool, stating that such methods have always backfired, harming Palestinian interests and perpetuating cycles of violence without advancing the cause of peace. He believes that non-violent strategies, alongside meaningful reforms, are essential for achieving Palestinian long-term goals.

Views on Mahmoud Abbas

Al-Omari has voiced pointed criticisms of Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, particularly regarding his leadership style and the lack of meaningful reforms. Al-Omari believes that Abbas has overstayed his time in power and has failed to deliver on promises of reform. He contends that Abbas’ leadership has grown increasingly disconnected from the Palestinian people, contributing to widespread disillusionment with the Palestinian Authority. According to al-Omari, Abbas has prioritized maintaining power over making bold moves toward peace, allowing internal divisions to deepen and the PA to lose legitimacy. He has urged for new leadership that can reinvigorate Palestinian politics and better represent the needs of the people.

Criticism of Hamas

A key area of al-Omari's criticism is the role of Hamas in Palestinian politics. In 2009, he cautioned that engaging Hamas directly in negotiations would effectively grant it political legitimacy for using violence. He argues that Hamas’ reliance on violence and its rigid ideology have prevented constructive dialogue, and has pointed out that the Hamas-led violence has brought more suffering to Palestinians in Gaza than political gains. He has called for a removal of them from power. He believes that the fragmentation of Palestinian leadership, especially the rift between the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza, has significantly weakened the Palestinian position.

Writing and public commentary

Al-Omari is the co-author of the book The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and its Resolution: Sources and Discourses alongside Tal Becker.

He has contributed to leading policy think tanks, academic forums, and media outlets such as Foreign Policy, The Atlantic, The Brookings Institute, C-SPAN, PBS, and Moment Magazine. His writing has been published in periodicals such as The Wall Street Journal, Haaretz, Politico, Al-Jazeera, The Times of Israel, Al-Arabiya, The Washington Post, and BBC World News. His analysis frequently focuses on the internal dynamics of Palestinian politics and the challenges of achieving peace. He has testified before the U.S. Congress on several occasions, offering his expertise on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and how U.S. policy can better engage the region.