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| Mitt Romney's remarks reflect dwindling faith in two-state solution | Mitt Romney's remarks reflect dwindling faith in two-state solution |
| (8 days later) | |
| Mitt Romney's secretly recorded comments on the prospects for peace between Israel and the Palestinians reveal both misrepresentations and a shaky grasp of regional geography. But they also highlight a point of view that is gaining traction on both sides of the conflict: that the "two-state solution" is dead and that alternative scenarios must be considered and even embraced. | Mitt Romney's secretly recorded comments on the prospects for peace between Israel and the Palestinians reveal both misrepresentations and a shaky grasp of regional geography. But they also highlight a point of view that is gaining traction on both sides of the conflict: that the "two-state solution" is dead and that alternative scenarios must be considered and even embraced. |
| According to Romney, the Palestinians are committed to the destruction and elimination of Israel and have no interest in peace; if they had a state, the Iranians in no time would be shipping arms into the West Bank for use against Israel; and the world had better learn to live with this unsolved problem. | According to Romney, the Palestinians are committed to the destruction and elimination of Israel and have no interest in peace; if they had a state, the Iranians in no time would be shipping arms into the West Bank for use against Israel; and the world had better learn to live with this unsolved problem. |
| His characterisation of the Palestinians is wrong. The Palestinian Liberation Organisation, acknowledged as the "sole legitimate representative" of the Palestinian people, recognises the right of Israel "to exist in peace and security". The Palestinian leadership is committed to a negotiated solution and opposes armed struggle. Talks have been in abeyance for the past two years, but many diplomats and observers say Israel's continued settlement growth is the main obstacle rather than Palestinian intransigence. | His characterisation of the Palestinians is wrong. The Palestinian Liberation Organisation, acknowledged as the "sole legitimate representative" of the Palestinian people, recognises the right of Israel "to exist in peace and security". The Palestinian leadership is committed to a negotiated solution and opposes armed struggle. Talks have been in abeyance for the past two years, but many diplomats and observers say Israel's continued settlement growth is the main obstacle rather than Palestinian intransigence. |
| The official founding charter of Hamas, the Islamist faction that rules the tiny Gaza Strip, still calls for historic (ie pre-1948) Palestine to be liberated. However, its leaders have repeatedly indicated, albeit sometimes opaquely, that they can live with a Palestinian state within 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. | The official founding charter of Hamas, the Islamist faction that rules the tiny Gaza Strip, still calls for historic (ie pre-1948) Palestine to be liberated. However, its leaders have repeatedly indicated, albeit sometimes opaquely, that they can live with a Palestinian state within 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. |
| Romney's second point is that "the other side of what would be this new Palestinian state would either be Syria at one point, or Jordan", through which Iran could channel weapons. Wrong again. The West Bank has no border with Syria. There is a boundary between the Golan Heights, which is Syrian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, and Syria proper, but the West Bank's boundaries are with Jordan – not an ally of Iran – and Israel. Gaza's borders are with Israel and Egypt. | Romney's second point is that "the other side of what would be this new Palestinian state would either be Syria at one point, or Jordan", through which Iran could channel weapons. Wrong again. The West Bank has no border with Syria. There is a boundary between the Golan Heights, which is Syrian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, and Syria proper, but the West Bank's boundaries are with Jordan – not an ally of Iran – and Israel. Gaza's borders are with Israel and Egypt. |
| Romney's third point cannot be simply dismissed. Looking to the future, he says: "You hope for some degree of stability, but you recognise that this is going to remain an unsolved problem … We sort of live with it." This contradicts official US policy, which is that a two-state solution is still possible and desirable. But it reflects a growing debate on both sides of the conflict, which is that the entrenched and growing Jewish presence in the West Bank has rendered two separate states impossible. | Romney's third point cannot be simply dismissed. Looking to the future, he says: "You hope for some degree of stability, but you recognise that this is going to remain an unsolved problem … We sort of live with it." This contradicts official US policy, which is that a two-state solution is still possible and desirable. But it reflects a growing debate on both sides of the conflict, which is that the entrenched and growing Jewish presence in the West Bank has rendered two separate states impossible. |
| On the Palestinian side, some argue that one democratic state, in which everyone had equal rights, would soon lead to a Palestinian demographic majority and therefore political dominance. Of course, it would spell the end of the Jewish homeland, which is why Israel and most of the world cannot countenance it. On the Israeli side, some also argue for one state, but one in which Palestinians are denied full democratic rights, thus ensuring the Israeli hold on the biblical land of Judea and Samaria (aka the West Bank) and Jewish dominance. Critics say this would be a new form of apartheid. | On the Palestinian side, some argue that one democratic state, in which everyone had equal rights, would soon lead to a Palestinian demographic majority and therefore political dominance. Of course, it would spell the end of the Jewish homeland, which is why Israel and most of the world cannot countenance it. On the Israeli side, some also argue for one state, but one in which Palestinians are denied full democratic rights, thus ensuring the Israeli hold on the biblical land of Judea and Samaria (aka the West Bank) and Jewish dominance. Critics say this would be a new form of apartheid. |
| In the New York Times last week, the respected commentator and former Israeli negotiator Daniel Levy wrote: "New dividing lines have emerged within Israel's ruling elites." There were, he said, "three competing tendencies within Israel's ruling coalition: annexationists (who want to formally take over the West Bank), status quo merchants (who wink at the notion of two states while expanding settlements), and Bantustan two-staters (who want the Palestinians to accept 50% of the West Bank as constituting a state)." | In the New York Times last week, the respected commentator and former Israeli negotiator Daniel Levy wrote: "New dividing lines have emerged within Israel's ruling elites." There were, he said, "three competing tendencies within Israel's ruling coalition: annexationists (who want to formally take over the West Bank), status quo merchants (who wink at the notion of two states while expanding settlements), and Bantustan two-staters (who want the Palestinians to accept 50% of the West Bank as constituting a state)." |
| Finally, there is Romney's jaw-dropping payoff. He relates being called by a former secretary of state who said there was indeed a prospect of settlement of an issue that would surely be near the top of any US president's in-tray. Romney's response? "I didn't delve into it." | Finally, there is Romney's jaw-dropping payoff. He relates being called by a former secretary of state who said there was indeed a prospect of settlement of an issue that would surely be near the top of any US president's in-tray. Romney's response? "I didn't delve into it." |
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