The US wants to promote a two-state solution to end the conflict in Gaza, but Israel has repeatedly rejected the wishes of its closest ally.
The Israel-Hamas conflict shows no signs of ending after more than 3 months of fighting and has left about 25,000 people dead. Under pressure from the domestic and international community, the Biden administration wants to find a solution to end the conflict and stabilize the situation in the region.
In the Biden administration’s mind, a detailed plan for postwar Gaza governance would lay the groundwork for long-term, far-reaching changes in the region. The plan would include the establishment of a Palestinian state, security guarantees for Israel and normalization of Israel-Saudi relations.
The White House believes such steps would limit the ability of Iran, Israel’s arch-rival in the Middle East, to cause instability. Biden’s advisers say the plan is entirely feasible, though it would require tough decisions by countries in the region.
“It’s hard to imagine, but this is really the only path to peace and security for all,” said Jake Sullivan, White House national security adviser.
One of the first issues the US must address is changing Israel’s stance on the conflict. It needs its close ally to take more positive steps, reduce its military activity and allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. Washington also needs to convince Tel Aviv to negotiate a temporary ceasefire with Hamas to facilitate the release of the remaining hostages.
The most difficult task is to negotiate the establishment of a Palestinian state that exists alongside the state of Israel. This is a two-state solution that has long been agreed upon by the international community and is considered by the US as the best way to end the conflict.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly poured "cold water" on the idea proposed by his American ally.
US President Joe Biden (left) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv on October 18. Photo: Reuters
At a press conference in Tel Aviv on January 18, when asked about the information that he opposed the idea of establishing a Palestinian state, Prime Minister Netanyahu said "in any agreement, Israel needs to control the security of the entire western territory of Jordan. This contradicts the idea of Palestinian sovereignty. What can you do?".
Netanyahu then took a more assertive stance. "I will not compromise on Israel's comprehensive security control over all territories west of the Jordan River," he stressed. "The establishment of a Palestinian state would pose an existential danger to Israel."
The western Jordanian region includes the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza. The Israeli leader later added that "the current conflict is not about the lack of a Palestinian state, but about the existence of the state of Israel".
This is not the first time that Prime Minister Netanyahu has expressed his opposition to the idea of a Palestinian state. Last December, he said Israel would not accept a Palestinian Authority takeover of Gaza, in his most forceful response to the US plan for Gaza's post-conflict future.
"After the enormous loss of soldiers and civilians, I will not allow those who train, support or finance Hamas to enter the Gaza Strip," Netanyahu said, referring to the Palestinian Authority, which controls the West Bank.
Even as he maintained steadfast support for Tel Aviv, behind the scenes, the US president and top officials grew increasingly frustrated with Prime Minister Netanyahu's insistence on rejecting the two-state solution.
At a political rally in December 2023 in the US, Mr. Biden warned Israel for the first time about the risk of losing global support. "Israel's security may depend on the United States, but they don't only have support from the United States. They have the support of the European Union and many other countries around the world. However, they are starting to lose that support because of indiscriminate bombing," he said.
US officials said on January 18 that they would not allow Netanyahu's current stance to hinder efforts to advance the plan with their Israeli counterparts.
A senior White House official noted that Prime Minister Netanyahu's new comments were unlikely to be his final position, adding that the head of Israel's wartime cabinet had softened his stance from earlier.
"If we take that as the final position, there will be no aid going into Gaza or hostages being released. We will continue to work toward the appropriate outcome," said a senior US official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
A public rift between Netanyahu and Biden emerged in December as casualties mounted in Gaza and the two sides increasingly disagreed on the future of the Palestinians after the conflict. The US signaled that it wanted Israel to reduce the intensity of its campaign, focusing on Hamas leaders and members rather than launching massive attacks that killed civilians.
“I want them to prioritize saving civilian lives. Not to stop the campaign against Hamas, but to proceed more carefully,” Mr. Biden said last month.
Location of Israel, Gaza, West Bank. Graphics: AFP
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Mr Netanyahu in a recent meeting that “every partner I met with said they were ready to support a lasting solution that ends the violence and ensures Israel’s security”. He added that they were ready to help rebuild and establish a post-conflict governance mechanism for the Gaza Strip.
"However, they stressed that this could only be achieved through a regional approach, including a solution towards the establishment of a Palestinian state," Mr. Blinken said.
He asserted that if Tel Aviv wants its Arab neighbors to participate in ensuring long-term security for the Gaza Strip, Israeli leaders will have to "make difficult decisions themselves."
Both Mr Biden and Mr Netanyahu face growing domestic political pressure as the Gaza campaign drags on, with the US president repeatedly battered by pro-Palestinian protests demanding he call a ceasefire and pressure Israel to end the campaign.
Meanwhile, the Israeli prime minister is facing heavy pressure to rescue more than 100 hostages held by Hamas. His government has also been widely criticized for security lapses that allowed the Hamas attack to occur.
Netanyahu’s popularity among Israelis has plummeted since the attack, and the failure to release the hostages has added to the pressure on him. In response to calls for his resignation, Netanyahu said Israeli politicians who had asked him to step down as prime minister essentially wanted to establish a Palestinian state.
"Those who talk about a post-Netanyahu future are really talking about the establishment of a Palestinian state," he said, adding that an Israeli prime minister needs "to be able to say no to our friends".
Smoke rises during an Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip in December 2023. Photo: AFP
Asked about Netanyahu's comments, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on January 18 that President Biden's desire for a Palestinian state "will not change".
"We will continue to work hard to achieve this goal," he affirmed.
Thanh Tam (According to CNN, WSJ, Reuters )
Source link
Comment (0)