Some contend that the exclusion of women during the Oslo process made a tangible difference in the outcome. Had male peace negotiators asked Israeli and Palestinian women about the Oslo Accords strategy, “they would have suggested slight changes to the way the lines were drawn that could have greatly improved access to land and water and better maintained the integrity of communities,”writes Carla Koppell, USAID’s chief strategy officer, and Rebecca Miller, a technical adviser at Mercy Corps (both formerly of the Institute of Inclusive Security).

The exclusion of women during the Oslo process made a tangible difference in the outcome.

That may be partly because women have different values — and perspectives — than men. “Women tend to raise social issues that men overlook,” said Hilal. “They talk about education, water, healthcare — those everyday topics that aren’t considered high politics.” Here comes that now hackneyed, but important, caveat: women in neither society are a homogenous group. But a recent survey suggests that in Israel, women value peace more than men.