The US is drawing up a plan to create a Palestinian state after the end of the war in Gaza

2024-02-23 20:21:11Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Palestinians search for survivors of an Israeli airstrike on a residential building in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip, on February 23, 2024

Although the fighting in Gaza shows no signs of being close to ending, the international community has begun to consider scenarios for what the Gaza Strip will look like after the war. According to VOA Jerusalem correspondent Linda Gradstein, the United States says it wants to see the creation of a demilitarized Palestinian state led by a reformed Palestinian Authority. Israel continues to oppose the creation and recognition of a Palestinian state.

With Israelis still traumatized by the massacre of Israeli settlements by the militant group Hamas on October 7, an absolute majority of deputies in Israel's Knesset parliament voted to oppose the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state.

"Israel will continue to oppose the unilateral recognition of the Palestinian state. Such recognition in the face of the October 7 massacre would be a great and unparalleled reward for terrorism," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared.

The international community has strongly condemned Israel's actions in Gaza that have led to the deaths of 29,000 people, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, and created a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. They also say that Gaza should be part of a future Palestinian state. The Palestinian Authority, which controls the West Bank, sees the current international reaction to the Israel-Hamas war as an opportunity to push for statehood.

"The world should not follow the position of Netanyahu and his government, which opposes the two-state solution. Instead, the world should strive to end the occupation, unilaterally recognize the State of Palestine, vote for Palestine to become a member state of the United Nations,” declared Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh.

According to reports in the American media, Washington is envisioning a new regional order, according to which Israel agrees to the creation of a demilitarized Palestinian state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. In return, Israel would benefit from a long-desired peace plan with Saudi Arabia, which would in turn secure a defense agreement with the United States. Other Arab states that have already signed peace agreements with Israel will provide security guarantees that the Palestinian state does not become a threat to Israel."

Some Palestinian analysts and former peace negotiators consider the American initiative unrealistic and lacking substance.

"When the United States talks about the Palestinian state, I don't think it's clear what the content is about. When they talk about it, they are responding to a regional demand, that at least the creation of the state is on the political horizon," says former Palestinian negotiator Ghaith Al Omari.

This has been proven in the past. In 1993, Israel and the Palestinians, along with President Bill Clinton, signed the Oslo Accords that outlined the path to the creation of a Palestinian state. It did not materialize. But some Oslo negotiators say it is not too late, even now after the massacre of Hamas and after four months of war in Gaza.

"Usually, after war, peace is achieved. Look at history, we've all studied it. In the history of Europe and other countries, agreements have been reached after wars. How is it possible? "Hatred grows on both sides after wars and people want to get rid of the problem that caused the war and there comes a point when they are ready for peace," says Israeli negotiator Yossi Beilin.

But this version of Mr. Beilin's peace is currently out of step with Israeli public opinion, according to a poll by the Israel Democracy Institute. According to the survey, two-thirds of Israeli Jews do not support a Palestinian state, even as part of an agreement that would include peace with Saudi Arabia./VOA


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