Current U.S. Policy Toward Israeli–Palestinian Conflict Undermines Two-State Solution
The current U.S. approach to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict further undermines the chances for a two-state solution. Rather than pretending that an agreement is possible, it would be far better if U.S. efforts in the remainder of this year began to address underlying problems to improve the scenarios for the next administration, urges Middle East expert Nathan J. Brown.
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Published on May 13, 2008
WASHINGTON, May 13—The current U.S. approach to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict actually further undermines the chances for a two-state solution. Rather than pretending that an agreement is possible now, it would be far better if U.S. efforts in the remainder of this calendar year began to address the underlying problems to improve the scenarios for the next administration, urges Middle East expert Nathan J. Brown in his new report, Sunset for the Two-State Solution?, released today.
The next U.S. administration will face a series of bleak choices on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, of which a two-state solution remains the most attractive. But the framework to support a two-state solution has collapsed. A two-state solution will require a more viable and unified Palestinian leadership and less intrusive Israeli security in the West Bank.
To keep a two-state solution alive for the next administration, the Bush administration should:
Stop blocking a power sharing agreement between Hamas and Fatah, the best short-term path toward restoring Palestinian leadership.
Pursue a realistic cease-fire between Israel and Hamas by supporting Egyptian mediation efforts.
Initiate indirect contact with Hamas through President Abbas—both the costs and benefits of direct engagement with Hamas are greatly exaggerated.
Develop Palestinian institutions capable of authoritative decisions, rather than short-sightedly embracing individual leaders.
Support Fatah reform—the party’s last hope for new blood and credibility.
Back the restoration of democratic rule in Palestine by reviving the terms of Palestine’s Basic Law or interim constitution.
“The menu that will greet the incoming U.S. administration in January 2009 is short and unappetizing. The most attractive option—revival of the two-state solution—will require extremely robust efforts indeed. And it will also demand more patience, concerted attention, and tolerance for risk than the United States has shown so far in dealing with the conflict.”
Nathan J. Brownis director of the Institute for Middle East Studies at the George Washington University, a nonresident senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment, and a distinguished scholar and author of four well-received books on Arab politics.
Former Palestinian negotiator Ghaith al-Omari and Brown discussed the report today at an event at the Carnegie Endowment. Video and audio are available here. Transcript will be available in the forthcoming days.
Brown’s report, Sunset for the Two-State Solution?, is the second policy brief in the Carnegie Endowment’s new series “Foreign Policy for the Next President.” Next January, the new U.S. president will be confronted with the longest list of severe challenges any president has faced in decades. Prioritizing among them will be even more important than usual. In the series, the Carnegie Endowment’s experts endeavor to do just that. They separate good ideas from dead ends and go beyond widely agreed goals to how to achieve them.
The Carnegie Middle East Program combines in-depth local knowledge with incisive comparative analysis to examine economic, socio-political, and strategic interests in the Arab world. Through detailed country studies and the exploration of key cross-cutting themes, the Carnegie Middle East Program, in coordination with the Carnegie Middle East Center, provides analysis and recommendations in both English and Arabic that are deeply informed by knowledge and views from the region. The Carnegie Middle East Program has special expertise in political reform and Islamist participation in pluralistic politics throughout the region.
The Carnegie Middle East Center is a public policy think tank and research center based in Beirut, Lebanon. Bringing together senior researchers from the region, the Carnegie Middle East Center aims to better inform the process of political change in the Middle East and deepen understanding of the issues the region and its people face.
The Arab Reform Bulletin addresses political reform in the Middle East. Sent monthly, it offers analysis from U.S.-based and Middle Eastern political experts in English and Arabic, as well as news synopses and resource guides.
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
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