In the wake of an unexpected Hamas assault on Israel that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Israelis, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has escalated further. Israel has responded with airstrikes on Gaza, leading to the loss of hundreds of Palestinian lives. Meanwhile, the United States is considering the deployment of a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East amidst efforts by other nations to reduce tensions.
So, why are Palestine and Israel caught in this enduring cycle of conflict? Exploring the perspectives of rational voices on all sides can shed light on the historical and current factors driving this unrest.
A Viable Alternative to Endless Bloodshed
Richard Haass, president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, emphasizes, \"There is no solely military answer.\" He underscores the necessity of incorporating a diplomatic element, \"including a credible Israeli plan for bringing about a viable Palestinian state.\"
So, what hinders the inclusion of this \"diplomatic element into the equation?\" Israel's discriminatory policies may be part of the answer.
According to Daoud Kuttab, an award-winning Palestinian journalist, \"Israel frequently prevents Palestinians from engaging even in peaceful political activity.\" These discriminatory practices not only contravene international law but are \"also being implemented with brute force and intimidation.\" The recent escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is rooted in the long-standing unresolved demands of the Palestinian people.
Violence threatens to spiral out of control unless substantial efforts are undertaken to ease the situation and provide political hope through a credible peace process.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once claimed to have his \"two hands firmly on the steering wheel.\" But now the wheel seems out of his control. However, some critics argue that it is Netanyahu's policies that have led to the current situation.
Just weeks ago, Netanyahu brushed aside the Palestinian issue during a speech at the United Nations, hailing the normalization of ties in 2020 with several Arab nations under the so-called Abraham Accords as \"heralding a new era of peace.\"
Shlomo Ben-Ami, a former Israeli foreign minister, explained why this crisis was somehow doomed to happen. \"By ruling out any political process in Palestine and boldly asserting that 'the Jewish people have an exclusive and inalienable right to all parts of the Land of Israel,' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's fanatical government made bloodshed inevitable.\"
China has called on relevant parties to remain calm, exercise restraint and immediately end the hostilities to protect civilians and avoid further deterioration of the situation.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson emphasized that the recurrence of the conflict between Palestine and Israel shows once again that the protracted standstill of the peace process cannot last. The fundamental way out of the conflict lies in implementing the two-state solution and establishing an independent State of Palestine, the spokesperson stressed.
Reference(s):
Palestinian-Israeli conflict: Rational voices from all sides
cgtn.com
