A two-state solution is the only one

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OTHER VIEW WHY CANT YoU PEOPLE GET ALONGP PALESTINET CAGECARIONS COMMENTARY A two-state solution is the only one By Brent Scowcroft and Thomas R.

Pickering Support for Israeli-Palestinian peace predicated on an Israeli withdrawal to a border based on n recent days, the Obama the 1967 lines and opposition administration has under- to Israeli civilian settlements in taken two significant actions occupied territories have been regarding the Israeli-Palestinian long-standing bipartisan prin- issue.

It refrained from vetoing ciples of U.S. policy. The Carter a resolution at the U.N.

Secu- administration's determination rity Council that, among other of the illegality of settlements things, detailed the devastating under international law has impact that Israeli settlement never been reversed by succeed- expansion is having on the ing Republican or Democratic prospects for a two-state peace presidents. No administration agreement.

And in a landmark has been fond of having the speech, Secretary of State United Nations take the lead on John F.

Kerry warned that the this issue, given its own record trend toward a one-state real- on Israel, but all administra- ity is becoming increasingly tions since 1967 on occasion have entrenched, and he set out prin- voted in the Security Council ciples for a lasting peace based on contrary to the wishes of the a two-state solution. government of Israel.

He rightly pointed out that the As Israelis and Palestin- demise of the two-state option ians themselves made progress is to nobody's benefit - Israeli, with U.S. support, a bipartisan Palestinian or American. We consensus emerged in favor of a share Kerry's concerns and two-state solution.

Just because applaud the Obama adminis- something is a consensus does tration for having set out the not necessarily make it right. conclusions of its peace efforts But in this instance, the shared in a transparent and compelling pursuit of a two-state peace is manner. based on solid ground.

It is not Over decades in and out of only the best option available to government, we have shared Israel and to those Palestinians with great conviction the United seeking a peaceful resolution States' commitment to Israel to the conflict, but also it is the and its security.

We have also best option for America's own followed with increasing concern national interests. the inability to secure the kind Even in a region so desta- of peace that Israelis and Pales- bilized, flare-ups on the tinians alike so deserve and that Israeli-Palestinian front strike would best advance U.S. goals in a particularly radicalizing cord. the region and beyond.

No side If a two-state peace accord is is blameless for the absence of permanently off the agenda, peace, but the relentless con- and a protracted and increas- iscation of Palestinian land and ingly violent contlict develops in expansion of Israel's presence the occupied Palestinian ter- in the territories occupied since ritories, the ramifications for 1967 have created facts on the U.S. national security interests ground that are the proximate would be disturbing, particularly cause of tear that a two-state given our commitment to Israel's deal might soon be impossible to security. attain.

When U.S. presidents assert Kerry's speech and the U.S. their opposition to settlements decision to abstain at the United and reatfirm their support for Nations on Resolution 2334 have two states, they are doing what stirred controversy, at home and their oath of office requires - abroad.

We feel it is important to serving U.S. national security offer reminders of certain simple interests. Our commitment to truths. Israel is right and unshakable, but it cannot extend to committing ourselves to erroneous policies that undermine U.S. interests, well-being and security. We believe that a rejection ot peace and the promotion of settlements are also bad for Israel.

If we lose the two-state option, then we may well lose the ability to base the U.S.- Israel relationship on shared values. The permanent disenfranchise- ment of millions of people on an ethnic-national basis - keeping the Palestinians "separate and unequal," in Kerry's words - does not conform with American values. This is not something to be taken lightly.

The Obama administration, in line with its predecessors, is right to be doing its duty to advance dig- nity for both peoples' stability and security. It is also right to speak truth, even when it may be incon- venient, to our closest of allies. We also understand that administrations and their prefer- ences change, and we celebrate that part of our democracy.

Experience tells us that cam- paigning and even transitioning are one thing, but that governing is quite another. The incoming Trump administration, like its predecessors, will face challenges and thorny dilemmas across the globe, not least in the Middle East.

We would hope that when it comes to weighing the alterna- tives, our new leaders will come to see the wisdom in advancing the only viable option for peace: a sovereign and contiguous Palestine alongside a secure and democratic Israel, with an agreed border based on the 1967 lines. - Brent Scoweroft served as national security adviser to Pres- idents Gerald Ford and George H.

W. Bush. Thomas R. Picker- ing is a former under secretary of state and served as ambassador to the United Nations and Israel, among other places. Scowcroft and Pickering are chairman emeritus and the current chair- man, respectively, of the U.S./ Middle East Project.

Cite this item

"A two-state solution is the only one," Telegram and Gazette, 3 January 2017. Covering Palestine archive, CP-2017-019. https://coveringpalestine.org/archive/cp-2017-019