A couple of weeks ago, the Trump administration rolled out its solution for the Israel-Palestine conflict, titled the “Israel Peace Plan.” The New York Times reported that the plan guarantees Israel has full control of Jerusalem and that Israel does not have to leave areas they settled in the West Bank. President Trump also “promised to provide $50 billion in international investment to build the new Palestinian entity and open an embassy in its new state.” This plan upset many, particularly those sympathetic to the Palestinian cause. In today’s blog, I will explain why this plan was not well received by the international community.
Image of Israel Peace Plan Changes
Source: Foreign Policy
To begin, some background information is needed on the conflict. The issues began following the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, in which three territories were developed: Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. The neighboring Arab states did not like that Israel existed to begin with, and in 1973 Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel. They did so to protest the Israeli occupation of the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights. The Camp David Accords in 1979, brought an end to the war and bonded Egypt and Israel together in a peace treaty.
Image of the Signing of Camp David Accords
Source: CNN
Violence in the region rose again in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Palestinians began to protest the Israeli occupation of territory designated to the Palestinian people, in addition to the Israeli unfair governance of the Palestinians. By international law, Israel was not allowed to make settlements in the West Bank. As a result, the Oslo Accords were created in 1993, in which Palestinians were given a foundation to begin self-governance. However, by the early 2000s, tensions were rising again.
Image of the first intifada by Palestine
Source: Al Jazeera
One of the main issues preventing Palestine from effectively governing itself and negotiating its rights its the inter-fighting. There are two groups claiming to represent Palestine, Fatah and Hamas. Hamas is considered to be a terrorist organization by the United States do to its violent rebellions against the Israeli state. This inter-fighting has allowed Israel to occupy more land with little resistance from the Palestinians.
Source: NPR
So why was the Israel Peace Plan so unpopular among the international community? The main reason was that it seemed to greatly favor Israel. One of the main points of contention between Israel and Palestine is both claim Jerusalem to be their capitals. The majority of two-state solutions propose that Jerusalem be split between the two nations or have Jerusalem by a city-state. Trump’s plan gives full control to Israel. Anther reason that the Israel Peace Plan is so unpopular is that it allows Israel to keep its settlements along the West Bank as “enclaves.” This has upset many, as it was determined by international court and the UN that the Israeli settlements in Palestine’s West Bank are illegal.
Source: If Americans Knew
The conflict between Israel and Palestine has been going on for a very long period of time. As such, some people argue that the Trump administration policy, while not perfect, is needed if a solution is ever to be reached between the two organizations. I believe that while negotiations are needed, the Trump solution would cause more problems than solutions. The plan so heavily favors one side and the United States is seen as a strong ally of Israel that Palestine would never feel comfortable with the United States mediating the problem. Additionally, the current administration in Israel is very conservative, and less open to negotiations between the two parties. Furthermore, Palestine does not have a chosen governmental representation, hindering negotiations. I personally believe that this conflict has potential solutions, none of which are 100% perfect, but what is missing is the perfect mediator as well as open to peace leaders on both sides. Once that is achieved, I believe that the conflict can be settled.