The Death Of The Two-State Solution

Expectedly, the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Israel바카라�s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu raised no hopes for the Palestinians in Gaza or the Occupied West Bank. Those who had looked to Trump to end the war now realise that Trump바카라�s one-point agenda is to get the remaining Israeli hostages out, and clear Gaza of the Palestinians that have lived in the strip of land often referred to as the world바카라�s largest open prison.

A ceasefire that continues to be negotiated is for the limited purpose of getting the hostages out and ending Israel바카라�s war on Gaza. Yes, Trump does want the war to end.  But with Israel already controlling 50 per cent of Gaza, stage three and four of the so-called peace agreement between Hamas and Israel was never seriously considered. What happens to the nearly two million people living there is not a priority.

바카라�We바카라�re committed to getting all the hostages out, but also eliminating the evil tyranny of Hamas in Gaza and enabling the people of Gaza to freely make a choice to go wherever they want,바카라� Trump told reporters. But the people of Gaza want to remain in their homeland. The President conceded that those who wished could stay on. But the emphasis was on the majority of the people finding another home in one of the several Arab countries. 

Netanyahu praised Trump바카라�s 바카라�bold vision바카라� for Gaza that included US taking over the enclave, which Trump had called for earlier. Trump apparently has not abandoned the idea, because he said once again on Monday that a 바카라�peace force like the United States there controlling and owning the Gaza Strip would be a good thing".

Two State Solution Buried?

A political solution to the long-pending Palestinian issue was never on the cards for Netanyahu. The idea is to expand the borders of Israel from the river to the sea, by forcing out the Palestinians from their homeland. Israel was carved out of Palestinian territory and today world leaders pay mere lip service to the idea of a two state solution. Trump, who believes in 'might is right', is never going to bat for a Palestinian state. Netanyahu thrives in this  environment, more so as Israel has already shown its military superiority, backed of course by the US--both Biden and Trump. 

While Israel may have destroyed Gaza, Hamas is still very much in control. This gives Netanyahu the excuse to continue military operations and Israel바카라�s war on terror. He has Trump바카라�s full backing for it.   

President Joe Biden, though he never did anything about it, also believed in a two-state solution. Europe had always backed the notion of Israel and a Palestinian State living side by side in harmony. After all, the Oslo Accord was part of that. But today all that is buried.

What happens the day after the war?

The option for the people of Gaza is grim. Their land had already been devastated; yet, in a remarkable show of resilience the people are ready to return and rebuild their lives. That does not suit Israel. Netanyahu바카라�s orthodox support base believes this is the time to recreate the Biblical promised land and drive out the Palestinians. The Jewish settlers believe that this is what was promised to the followers of Moses and that they are tantalisingly near to getting the promised land. Trump and Netanyahu are openly talking of this. 

This is a throwback to the times of the Nakba, or the great Catastrophe, when millions of Palestinians were thrown out of their land during the 1948 Arab-Israel war, soon after the formation of Israel. Over 5.3 million Palestinian refugees registered with the UN after they were ejected from their homes. The same situation has come back to haunt the people of Gaza, with Trump바카라�s talk of forcing people out of the Strip.

According to Iftikhar Gilani, a journalist based in Turkiye, the Washington meeting between Trump and Netanyahu was not so much about Gaza but on the current negotiations  between US and Iran. Trump wants to make sure that Israel does not take unilateral action on Iran. As is well known, Netanyahu, emboldened by Israel바카라�s campaign against Hezbollah and American action against Houthis in Yemen, is keen to take on Iran. Gilani believes that Trump will also try to bridge the gap between Türkiye바카라�s President Erdogan and Netanyahu. Erdogan played a crucial role in getting Bashar al Assad out of Damascus. The current president of  Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa is backed by Erdogan. Israel is uneasy at this.