Ghaith al-Omari

Overview:
Ghaith al-Omari is a Jordanian advocate of the so-called two-state solution, and more generally, policies appeasing Israeli expansion and recognition in the Middle East. Acting as an advisor and representative of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) during post-Oslo Accords negotiations, Omari has effectively set the ground against the Palestinian cause since the late 1990s. Despite being close to noticeable PA politicians such as Mahmoud Abbas, Ghaith’s appalling participation and endorsement of numerous Zionist initiatives reveals his off-stage collusion with Zionist actors.
Ghaith’s written pieces are featured in The Washington Post, Haaretz, Times of Israel, The Atlantic, Axios, Foreign Policy, Wilson Institute, Al-Arabiyah English, Foreign Affairs, and The American Interest, among other publications.¹

US, UK & Jordanian Ties

Born and raised in Jordan, al-Omari graduated from Georgetown and Oxford universities as a lawyer, and came to Ramallah, West Bank in 1998 where interestingly joined the Palestinian Negotiating Team shortly after. Before getting involved in the “Middle East peace process”, he instructed international law in Jordan and was active in so-called human rights advocacy.²

Palestinian Authority Advisor

Ghaith al-Omari was an advisor to the Palestinian negotiating team during the post-Oslo Accords 1999–2001 “permanent status talks”. Al-Omari has long been an active player in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process – which was brought to a halt in 2014.
Al-Omari has held various other positions, including Director of the International Relations Department in the President’s Office as an adviser to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas from 1999 until 2006. During this time, al-Omari took part as a Palestinian negotiator at the 2000 Camp David Summit summoned by Bill Clinton – then-president of the US, and again at the 2001 Taba Summit in Egypt. After the failure of Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, Omari was the main Palestinian representative at the Geneva Initiative, an unofficial model peace agreement negotiated between Palestinian and Israeli public figures , which confirmed “both sides’ right to two separate states” and set Israel’s so-called borders, close to what existed at the culmination of the 1967 war.³

A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

Beyond al-Omari’s seemingly pro-Palestine rhetoric, Omari has always ultimately supported the Zionist Middle East agenda, condemning not only Hamas for “costing Palestinians and Israelis’ lives”, but also condemning any Palestinian “protest” under the pretext of causing further violence. Instead of adopting a realistic approach condemning Zionism and Israel, Omari has always sought to highlight domestic political disparities between the PLO, Fatah, and Hamas. It’s remarkable that al-Omari’s remarks are incessantly promoted and sponsored by well-known Zionist outlets and figures, including Israel’s i24 news channel.⁴
When one pieces the puzzle together, Omari appears to be no more than a western-educated Jordanian mole undermining Palestinian independence and resistance, clearly cooperating with the broader Zionist network. What follows is a short summary of Omari’s cooperation with Zionist entities:
In 2014, Omari joined dishonored Zionism agitators in the AIPAC-funded Washington Institute, including Dennis Ross , the Institute counselor – a top Middle East consultant to Obama – and Moshe Yaalon, Israel’s former defense minister . Omari has taken part in many pro-Israeli events featuring openly Zionist figures. His companionship with blatant Zionist and pro-Zionism activists is eye-catching; David Makovsky , and Yossi Klein Halevi are included in this list.⁵

Ghaith’s presence in the “Letter to My Palestinian Neighbor” program banner. The Zionist **Hillel** and Jewish Community Relations Council are among program’s backing organizations

“Prospects for Peace” program promoted by Hillel

“Struggle for Peace” program promoted by the Zionist Hillel and **the Jewish Federation**

Omari does not withhold sympathy towards well-known Zionists. “With the assassination of [Yitzhak] Rabin, we lost a leader who had the qualities that would have made a peacemaker,” said Omari on his death anniversary. Rabin was a former Prime Minister of the Zionist regime.

Ali Abunimah , director of Electronic Intifada criticizing al-Omari for commemorating the disgraced Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. According to Abunimah, al-Omari is obsessed with AIPAC.

Omari has a track record at The Washington Institute’s Irwin Levy Family Program dealing with the U.S.-Israel Strategic Relationship since 2014. In addition, al-Omari is the former executive director of the American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) – a “Palestinian advocate” in the United States of a two-state solution. It shrunk in 2014, citing complications in fundraising. Since 2022, Omari has joined the “All Arab News” advisory board.⁶
Following Israeli policy, Omari does not miss any opportunity to stir up trouble for International organizations providing aid for Palestinians, such as UNRWA. He imprudently steps further and promotes economic and political recognition of the Israeli regime – such as the Abraham Accords – as a “win-win-win situation” for the region.⁷