It’s time for the U.S. to stop meddling in the Middle East. Here’s why.
I wrote this article before the deal of the century. Turns out I was absolutely right. Shock horror.
On the 6th of December 2017, President Trump announced the decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, going against the previous three administrations in deferring the move that was agreed under the Jerusalem Embassy Act in 1995. He has also administered the sales of F-35 fighter jets to Egypt, and has most recently assassinated Iran’s top military general Qasem Soleimani. These three incidents have demonstrated that Donald Trump has no care for global politics but instead simply wants to make headlines to try to rile up his supporter base, and win votes for the 2020 election. And that means one thing, and one thing only, he and the United States cannot be trusted to lead peace negotiations any longer.
The issue of solving peace in the Middle-East is a long and arduous process that requires both mediation and concessions. Since 2001 at the Taba negotiations, there has not been an inkling of an opportunity for peace due to a variety of different factors. Firstly, the rise of Islamic terrorism in the Middle-East from Al-Qaeda and ISIS, who openly call for the destructive of Israel, and are funded by the Saudi government has increased support for Israeli Right-Wing governments such as Ariel Sharon and Benjamin Netanyahu, with even Benny Gantz’s opposition party threatening to ‘bomb Gaza into oblivion’ if elected in the February run-offs. The second, and perhaps more important reason, has been the lack of leadership within the Palestinian authorities of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. While Mahmoud Abbas’ PLO lead the West Bank, Hamas, a terrorist organisation, are in charge of the Gaza Strip and have been since 2003, which only increases anti-Palestinian sentiment, and gives the Israeli electorate a reason to vote for hardline anti-peace governments. These are not my words. These are the words of Madeline Albright and Bill Clinton, according to the leading peace envoy of the United States; Dennis Ross. So these are the challenges that face making peace in the Middle-East, an Israeli Prime Minister who doesn’t want to make peace, and Hamas who want to wipe Israel off the face of the planet. Not ideal. So where does Trump come into all of this?
The easy answer is that Trump and Netanyahu are mates. Trump supports Netanyahu, since he was the first President to use the term ‘one-state solution’. But it’s not as simple as that. You see, Trump and Netanyahu have a relationship like a couple who are pretending to still like each other because they have children. Trump’s closing of the Washington PLO office and decrease in funding for Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, withdrawing from the Iran Nuclear Deal, and withdrawal of troops fighting ISIS in Syria all go against what the Israelis want. All three are more likely to strengthen the support for Hamas, just as likely as they to play well with his voter base, all of whom he promised an end to wars and a hard line to Middle Eastern countries. He is simply attempting to garner more support for his 2020 Presidential Campaign from both his new base of working-class communities in swing states who are historically democrat, and increase support from the Israel Lobby, a small but important group in American politics. His killing of Qasem Soleimani on 6th January 2020 was always going to inevitably lead to Iran threatening to attack Israel, as Iran are historically the most anti-Israel country in the region. So what does this all mean?
Well, firstly, it means that we shouldn’t expect to see a change in Israel-Palestine relations for quite some time. Contrary to the opinions of most, I believe that a two-state solution is very possible. I don’t just believe it’s possible, I firmly believe that we can make it happen. Secondly, it means that America can no longer be trusted to deal with the situation at hand. The conflict has historically had the United States as the prime mediator to attempt to make both countries make concessions. However, American party politics is in such a position now that the left effectively supports the position of the Palestinians, as Barack Obama was the first President to openly argue for the ‘1967 borders’, and the right are ardently pro-Israel, and pro-Netanyahu. The Jerusalem Embassy Act was enacted by a Republican congress, and despite deferring, George W Bush was actively pro-Israel. I would argue that now it is time for the EU, through France and Germany, to take charge of negotiations while remaining neutral. I believe that supporting a Palestinian right to statehood, while also promoting an Israeli Jewish state is in the interest of both, and services to work for the greater good of the future of the not just the region, but the world.
I do not necessarily agree with Barack Obama’s ideal for 1967 borders, nor a one-state solution, but what it clear is that the two sides have to meet to make concessions and attempt to rebuild the relationship. I also believe that Hamas and Hezbollah have to lay down all arms, and the Israeli people should vote for Benny Gantz in February. The acceptance of both sides’ existence and concessions have to come, and come quickly in order to make this happen. The right-wing Israeli government and Hamas are in a perpetual circle which will only seek to decimate the relationship even further, and ruin what was left of any form of stability in the region.
Finally, what we have to understand is that America is a child who will do everything in its power to get what it wants. It will kick and scream and shout and stomp its feet until the grown ups just give in and let them do what they want. Europe, China and Russia have to stop accommodating to their insanity and petulance, and once and for all sit them in their car seat, strap them up, and let them cry themselves to tiredness. Their hegemony has gone on too long, caused too many conflicts, and ultimately ended too many lives. Let them be a country that has decided that somehow clean drinking water, healthcare and democracy is not a basic human right, and let them do it alone. We have bigger fish to fry.
