It is incumbent on the United States to implement a much more balanced approach to how it deals with the Israeli/Palestinian crisis. A fundamental paradigm shift in America’s strategic Middle-East policy initiatives related to those two peoples is needed to achieve peace and security. The situation cries out for international leadership that likely only the United States, the most influential player in that arena, can provide. But the US needs to get its own act together to be effective.

Cutting To The Chase – There is absolutely no defense for the heinous rape, torture, and murder of 1200 innocent Israeli citizens by Hamas on October 7th. And no Arab State is arguing against Israel’s right to defend itself. But defense is not what’s happening in Gaza today. That action amounts to senseless slaughter of primarily helpless non-combatants (perhaps 40% of them children) by the Israeli military, and it must stop.

The Israeli Government is carrying out what at best could be called REVENGE for Oct 7th, and at worst GENOCIDE. Cutting off food, water, and medicine to more than 2 million, mostly innocent people, while indiscriminately bombing their homes, hospitals, and other life supporting civilian infrastructure to rubble is not defense, regardless of how Israel tries to spin it. No civilized government does that in the 21st century.

An especially stressful part of this crisis for many Americans is that we are enabling the carnage. Israel is using US military and economic aid to achieve their cruel abuse of defenseless humans. It is time for the Biden Administration to administer more tough love to PM Netanyahu, and for the US to lead the international community in bringing this crime against humanity to an end.

Long Term Peace And Security – That is a whole other matter.  Security for Israel as well as the peaceful fulfillment of the hopes, dreams, and dignity of Palestinians can only be achieved by a two state solution. It’s time to make that happen. I think the Arab States in particular, and the international community in general, are ready to endorse and implement such a strategic initiative. I submit that the United States would find the Arab States to be serious partners eager to achieve that outcome if we (the US) played a more balanced role and enthusiastically promoted the two state solution on the international stage at the UN.

We need to recognize that the Middle-East is different now than it might have been a few decades ago. Today no Arab States are calling for the destruction of Israel. And they are not promoting or supporting terrorism. The economic wealth in the Middle-East has shifted in recent decades toward more pragmatic players. It is in their own economic self-interest to have political stability and expanded trade. That requires interacting with all interest groups. Unfortunately, at this juncture, in their effort to try to manage the reality on the ground, that has also historically required interaction with terrorist groups like Hamas.

The only real holdout against the two state solution is an autocratic Israeli Government. We need to re-assure Israel (maybe even by special treaty) of our unwavering commitment to their defense and security. But in exchange for that we should expect and must require that they enter into good faith negotiations with other stakeholders for the creation of a peaceful, independent, secure, and sovereign Palestinian State. That will require Israel to make some hard compromise choices that they probably consider unthinkable and will likely initially resist. But that is the formula for long term peace and security everywhere in the world.

Aside from Israeli intransigence, undertaking the creation of a sovereign Palestinian State and supporting its political and economic development is not a simple task. It will be a long term heavy lift for the international community. It is critical that such an initiative be done within the framework and authority of the UN for hope of long term success. With the hatred, distrust, and fear on both sides, creating a stable political environment will likely require a couple of decades of UN guidance, oversight, and support. Effectively we will need a new generation of leaders to emerge on both sides. Addressing the devastation on Palestinian infrastructure will also require major international investment as well as substantial assistance in establishing a viable Palestinian national economy and credible institutions of national governance.

It’s easy to write a paragraph about what must be done and how long it might take. It’s quite another for the member states of the UN to actually come together, develop a strategy and geopolitical structure, secure funds, negotiate terms and conditions between two peoples who currently hate each other, and then implement a compromise with which initially neither side will be completely satisfied. But that is the task at hand. The alternative is playing out in Gaza right now with innocent death everyday and no hope of permanent peace for either side. This is worth doing and the United States and other member states of the UN need to step up for the sake of humanity as well as the world order.