The Aix Group is an independent Palestinian-Israeli-International Think Tank focused on analyzing, writing and disseminating position papers on economic issues related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Group, registered as an NGO in France, works in partnership with DATA Studies and Consultations (Bethlehem) and the Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace (Hebrew University). The Aix Group was formed in 2002 by Professor Gilbert Benhayoun and a team of Israelis and Palestinians, under the auspices of the Université Paul Cézanne- Aix-Marseille III in France.

The Group works on permanent status topics as well as on transitional aspects of the conflict. The purpose is to promote sustainable and mutually beneficial relations between Israelis and Palestinians. The Aix Group has followed the peace process closely over many years and is able to provide decision makers as well as the public with comprehensive economic studies that cover the economic dimensions related to the crucial political discussions. 

Aix Group’s research is conducted by Israeli, Palestinian, and international economic experts; academics, former policy makers, members of private and public economic organizations, who are working as one team, taking into account all perspectives, in order to ensure balanced and realistic analysis. The Group’s findings have provided decision makers with a solid basis on which to assess alternatives regarding final status issues as well as interim ones.

The Aix Group, headed by its Steering Committee, continues publishing studies on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as well as doing advocacy; In 2016, in collaboration with the Office of the Chief Economist of the MENA Region, World Bank, the Group produced two further studies:

(1) Improving the Gazan Economy
(2) Utilizing the Economic Potential of the Jordan Valley

The studies were prepared by two joint teams and discussed in an International Conference in November 2016. The papers have been presented in March 2017, in the Truman Institute.

The Aix Group Website: www.aix-group.org
 

* Dr. Shanta Dejavaran, MENA Chief Economist, blog on the World Bank site
* Recording of the Event at the Truman Institute: Presentations of the Two Studies-March 22, 2017 

For more information about the Aix Group research please see the documnents attached below.