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The Trump Approach to the Palestinian Arena

(Jerusalem Post) Brig.-Gen (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser - While iterating deep zeal to make the ultimate deal and solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, President Trump adopts a different approach to the promotion of peace than that of his predecessors. Instead of proposing solutions, he focuses on helping the two sides reach an agreement by themselves, and puts more emphasis on improving economic conditions. Faced with this new policy, the Palestinians find themselves under growing pressure. Hence, the Palestinian Authority finds it necessary to look for ways to prevent what they consider dangerous developments, like the promotion of a regional initiative or a cut of foreign aid. Even as Hamas tried to adopt a position paper that would distance it from the harsh anti-Semitism of its charter, Hamas remains committed to the annihilation of Zionism and the State of Israel through jihad, but understands that the current situation requires more finesse and sophistication. There is no real difference between the narratives of Hamas and the PA. Both deny the existence of a Jewish people and any sovereign Jewish history in the Land of Israel, both consider Zionists colonizers. Both see as their ultimate and uncompromising goal the liberation of all of "Palestine" and are committed to the so-called "right of return." The only tactical differences are about the attitude toward the Oslo agreements (Hamas opposes them, the PA accepts them but ignores Palestinian obligations under them). The writer was formerly director general of the Israel Ministry of Strategic Affairs and head of the Research Division of IDF Military Intelligence.
2017-05-05 00:00:00
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