Mr Ibish has written the below excerpts in the article “Why the U.S. and Saudis Want a Two-State Solution, and Israel Doesn’t” (The Atlantic):
Amid the war in Gaza, a major crisis has been brewing, largely behind the scenes, between the United States and Israel over the need for a Palestinian state. The two governments’ positions have long diverged—except during the administration of Donald Trump ... Now that divergence has a harder, sharper edge than ever: Washington’s strategic goals in the region require a Palestinian state in the long run and Israeli acknowledgment of that aim in the short run; the Israeli government is having none of it.
Much expectation attends a purportedly comprehensive peace proposal that the U.S. and its most important Arab partners have reportedly been working on, soon to be unveiled and then implemented as the Gaza war winds down. The centerpiece of the plan would be a firm commitment to, and timeline for, the creation of a Palestinian state—a process that President Joe Biden has already mapped out in remarks ...
This contradiction between U.S. and Israeli policies raises troubling quandaries. The Biden administration appears to be working to confront Israelis with the stark choice they face: security through an agreement with Palestinians and normalization with Saudi Arabia (and other Arab and Muslim countries), or inviting further conflict by clinging to occupied Palestinian lands at a heavy cost of antagonized regional relations and declining American sympathies.
Recently, our Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron has commented that the UK is waiting “to formally recognise a Palestinian state” (BBC News).
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I don’t think this is going to work at all. Here are my thoughts:
Firstly, the “now is the time” for a two-state solution bombast is genuinely deranged. How can anyone think that now is the time for that sort of clamouring? In response to a violent attack targeting Israeli civilians, the clever idea is to now pressurise Israel into giving them concessions – thereby proving that slaughtering Jewish civilians is a viable means towards their political ends. I quite want to ask President Biden, why didn’t America give some of its US territory to the Taliban following 9/11?
Secondly, when the two-state solution fails (like every other “peace” deal); it will not be US civilians which Hamas 2.0 will be pouring into to murder.
Thirdly, the flaw in this argument is that there is no meaningful security with (1) Hamas as the terrorist governing authority; and (2) the Palestinian population remaining as radicalised and militant as they are.
Israel has road-tested the concept of Palestinian sovereignty back in 2005 in Gaza. They effectively pulled Israeli citizens and soldiers out – and gave the keys to the Palestinian Authority. Now, Israel is being prompted to try the exact same thing! The problem here goes way back to the Ottoman Empire in the perception that the land was inherently Islamic and/or Arabic. The repeated Arab rejections of a two-state solution goes way back to 1937. Israel’s first war broke out because the Arab states rejected the UN’s two-state solution. At Camp David, Ehud Barak offered 100% of Gaza; and 73% of the present West Bank. Not good enough for Arafat in 2000, and not good enough for Abbas in 2008 — despite Palestinians being offered almost all of their demands.
In my view, I think it’s deceptively easy to insist on eradicating Hamas. The real thorny problem is the underlying perception among the everyday Palestinian citizens that fighting – and committing acts of terrorism – is the pathway to any kind of peace. As George Deek argued, in order to have a two-state solution, it necessarily requires a serious recognition – by the Arab Palestinians – on accepting the legitimacy of others. Most especially the Jewish state – because it stands strikingly at odds in terms of nationality, religion, and culture.
After all, Egypt, Jordan and other states have signed the Abraham Accords which is a fundamental recognition of this logic. Saudi Arabia will eventually come to terms with this reality. And when the Palestinians realise that they have gained absolutely nothing through intifadas and extremism (apart from misery), then they will consider the alternative approach.
Then, Israel, the Palaestinians, and the whole world, will salute the two-state solution.
Most of the wars end due to lack of resources or lives to spare. Or negative public sentiment that enough is enough. Eventually a fake truce will be reached again.
ReplyDeleteYeap, and in this case, Hamas isn't fighting a war. It's just terrorism.
DeleteThat use of terror is the surest path to the 2-state solution.
You have written some good points.
ReplyDeleteEgo of some of these men in those countries certainly need a good shake..lol. They just don't seem to care at all, they only want the land. Of course this is said from a distance as I'm not amongst it.
Today I watched the U.N debate and vote on the end of the British Mandate of Palestine and the Establishment of the State of Israel in 1947. The United Nations adopted Resolution 181 that would divide Great Britain’s former Palestinian mandate into Jewish and Arab states in May 1948 when the British mandate was scheduled to end. The Russians and their allies were very moral in their post- Holocaust support for Jewish survivors; the British were not. Truman and the U.S decided to recognise the state of Israel, perhaps reluctantly. Syria may have been the sole negative vote.
ReplyDeleteTruman is very interesting.
DeleteBen Gurion, after the War of Independence, rejected Truman's demands to surrender the "occupied" Negev and West Jerusalem and take back all the "refugees" who had fled. Israel was then threatened by a US military embargo. Ben-Gurion rebuked it all, saying he wasn't going to commit Israel to national suicide.
Thanks for commenting Hels.
It was most interesting reading George Deek's article. Enlightened, knowledgeable people are needed everywhere to counter the bigots.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I really like him. He has a sense of perspective and nuance.
DeleteI deeply appreciate your well-reasoned and very honest appraisal of the situation! Aloha from Honolulu
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