Daily Alert Archives

Unilateral U.S. Recognition of Palestinian Statehood Is a Political Nonstarter and an Unwise Policy Step

(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) Michael Singh - Arab leaders seem adamant that the U.S. recognize Palestinian statehood unilaterally at the outset of any peace push, without waiting for Israeli concurrence. Saudi policymakers seem to fear that Arab public opinion will not brook a normalization agreement without major concessions on Palestinian statehood. They also seem to believe that neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor any of his likely successors would agree to such concessions in the near future, since Israeli public opinion would presumably regard them as a reward for the atrocities of Oct. 7. Unilateral recognition is both a political nonstarter in the U.S. and an unwise policy step. Declaring a Palestinian state without agreements on its borders, capital, or security relations with Israel could worsen the already dire situation between the two parties and set the stage for deeper conflict. In Israel's view, the outcome of its decisions to withdraw from south Lebanon in 2000 and Gaza in 2005 demonstrate the futility of simply declaring a problem solved without negotiating arrangements to keep the peace. Although the Gaza crisis has complicated the situation, Arab normalization with Israel can still help promote peace. Resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict requires a narrative of coexistence to counter Hamas' narrative of grievance and revenge. For two decades now, the U.S. has embarked on a string of impatient Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts that have collectively set the process back. What is needed today is patience. The writer, managing director and senior fellow at The Washington Institute, was former senior director for Middle East affairs at the U.S. National Security Council.
2024-03-07 00:00:00
Full Article