University of California Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation

Since the inception of the Middle East Peace Process in 1991, arms control and regional security issues have been one of the most difficult areas to address. The establishment and functioning of the official multilateral Arms Control and Regional Security (ACRS) Working Group in the multilateral process has had to overcome at best lack of knowledge and at worst deep skepticism on the part of Arab and Israeli officials and onlookers about arms control. In that regard, the parallel process of so-called “track-two” non-official discussions has helped to increase understanding and build support for the concept of a regional arms control and confidence-building component in the overall Middle East Peace Process.