There is no contentious debate in the world, more complex and multifariously polarizing than the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Many presidents have come and gone, and promised and failed to deliver.
Bilateral institutions have attempted to unravel the issue with deals, negotiations and mandates, yet the tensions get complex still. The only thing that seems to unravel is the fickle trust that both sides develop for each other after every highly publicized meeting.
This is perhaps a case of two sides of a coin with no intentions of budging at any cost. Israeli’s and Israeli supporters will kindly remind you of Hamas’ atrocities and other terrorist networks disguised as sovereignty seeking Palestinians. Furthermore, pro-Israelis will make sure you know that Palestinians want something that is not theirs, and was never theirs in the first place.
But [as is to be expected] the Palestinian point of view is differs starkly. An estimated 5 million Arabs living in Palestine today probably have no intentions of moving away, and they have no qualms reminding the world of Israel’s aggression, and disregard for international resolutions.
I am an objective observer who seeks peace for the region and security for both sides, and I am naïve enough to believe any deal that resembles long-term solution can’t be mutually exclusive.
Once upon a time the United States took the role of the neutral arbiter in this predicament, with the UN as its primary cheerleader. Presidents came and went, hopes were lifted and dashed, - all with no real solutions in sight.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is pushing ahead in his quest for full United Nations membership. It’s a tricky proposition, but he acknowledges that this has become a high stakes chess game and the only way to stay relevant in the conversation is to put himself on the agenda.
It will be the U.N. Security Council’s call, and at least force their hand for pressure Israel to agree to the 2 state solution and return to the 1967 borders. According to Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinians want a seat at the United Nations, and “don't want anything more." That is perhaps analogous to saying “I want a seat at the dinner table, I don’t care about the food.”
At least that is what any Israeli will tell you that Abbas’s proposition makes an already complicated scenario a shade murkier. The fact that Hamas continues to call the shots in Gaza, and is stanchly unwilling to acknowledge Israel makes it a tall order to question the fine prints of such an invitation.
Let’s be clear, any approval in the U.N. General Assembly will not lead to an established "state" with defined borders, but at least the Palestinian government gets an upgraded international status which will in turn give them recognition to pursue legal actions against Israel.
What does all this mean? Another layer of complexity to the uber-complicated scenario I mentioned earlier. Pardon my naiveté, - but after all these years, after all the numerous false starts, and dashed hopes, - the objective world starts to wonder if there is a solution after all.
If indeed there is, what does it look like?
