On October 7, a fresh wave of violence erupted between Israel and Palestine, leading to a tragic loss of over 4,000 lives by October 15. This intense bout of conflict marks a rare and significant escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian situation, profoundly affecting the Middle East's regional landscape.
One of the primary catalysts for the recent unrest is the United States' perceived neglect of Palestinian political aspirations. The U.S. has been actively promoting the normalization of relations between Israel and various Arab nations, a move that Palestinians feel sidelines their cause and fuels their frustration.
The roots of this tension can be traced back to the Arab Peace Initiative proposed by Saudi Arabia in 2002. This initiative called for Israel to make substantial concessions on the Palestinian issue in exchange for normalized relations with Arab countries. However, Palestinians argue that the U.S. has abandoned the "Palestinians first, then Arab nations" approach, exacerbating their sense of abandonment and anger.
Historically, U.S. involvement in Middle East peace negotiations has been criticized for its permissive stance on contentious issues such as the status of East Jerusalem, the right of return for Palestinian refugees, and Israeli settlements in the West Bank. This perceived favoritism has undermined the foundation of peace dialogues and eroded Palestinian confidence in achieving lasting peace.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that "the Jewish people have an exclusive and inalienable right to all parts of the land of Israel." Former Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami has expressed that Netanyahu's government has stymied political progress for Palestinians. Netanyahu's assertion of having his "two hands firmly on the steering wheel" now appears increasingly tenuous as the conflict spirals beyond his control.
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Hypocrisy and selfishness not a solution to Palestine-Israel conflict
cgtn.com
