World

US shift on two-state solution ‘doesn't make sense’: Palestinians

PLO official reaction comes on eve of White House talks between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Afp February 15, 2017

Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, holds a copy of the letter requesting Palestinian statehood as he speaks during the United Nations General Assembly September 23, 2011 at UN headquarters in New York. PHOTO: AFP

RAMALLAH, PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES: US President Donald Trump’s break with decades of support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is irresponsible and does not advance peace, a senior Palestinian said on Wednesday.

“This does not make sense,” Palestine Liberation Organisation executive committee member Hanan Ashrawi told AFP.

“This is not a responsible policy and it does not serve the cause of peace. They cannot just say that without an alternative,” she added.

On Tuesday, a senior White House official said the United States would no longer seek to dictate the terms of any eventual peace settlement by insisting on a Palestinian state alongside Israel, but would support whatever the two sides agree to together.

Netanyahu to test Trump policy at Washington talks

The comments came on the eve of White House talks between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “A two-state solution that doesn’t bring peace is not a goal that anybody wants to achieve,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

“Peace is the goal, whether that comes in the form of a two-state solution if that's what the parties want, or something else if that's what the parties want.”

For the better part of half a century, successive US governments -- both Republican and Democrat -- have backed a two-state solution.

Trump has yet to speak directly to the Palestinian leadership since taking office last month.

COMMENTS (3)

pointless | 7 years ago | Reply Maybe Trump is right. If Palestine was granted Statehood tomorrow it's only a cosmetic fix which would quickly unravel. Palestine has no central authority (Hamas and Fatah still haven't resolved issues), has multiple armed militias, doesn't have the ability to independently provide water, power, sewer or most of the basics associated with sovereign nation. Chances are high that Hamas would launch missiles at Israel within days/months of the "solution" and Israel would have the legal right to declare war. That doesn't sound like much of a solution to me. . Ultimately peace between Israel and the Palestinians is going to be determined by them - not the USA, Pakistan, UN or any 3rd party. A good starting point would be for the Palestinians to form a functioning govt which is capable of negotiating on behalf of all Palestinians .. until that happens negotiations with Israel are pointless.

John B | 7 years ago | Reply @Bhaijaan: Civilized people do not hold territories captured in war. Even after winning first Arab war against Israel, Israel asked Palestinians to accept the Two State solutions offered by the UN. It was a good deal, better than what UN proposed. In return, Palestinian has to recognize the Israel, which of course no muslim country was willing to do. After 1980, Israel decided it had enough, and allowed the settlers into West Bank. Now in real terms, even if Israel and Palestine agree for Two state solutions, both of them cannot carve out the new land. The demography is such that no separate Palestinian territory can be made in West Bank any more. Palestinians lost their home land in west bank. The solution put forth in Israel right wing is to assimilate all Palestinians into the full Israel territory, which Palestinians are not going to accept. So, in the end, Israel will have the west bank. East of Jordan river ( + Gaza ) is the new Palestine. That is Israel's position now. TWO state but not under old terms. There were plenty of opportunity to have Palestine state during early 1990 but Palestinian leadership was not cooperative. Now they lost everything. In many ways, it is sad. Objective analysis would say that Palestinian leadership were short sighted. Israel can't wait for forever for Palestinian leadership to make up their mind. Palestinian leaderships are not united in their national vision, except in not recognizing Israel. Anyone who talks about TWO state under old UN plan does not know what is going on in real world.

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