Here are five takeaways, from short term to long term
And as I’ve written more than once over the long wait, what the administration is aiming for is not necessarily success, but a paradigm shift in the approach to the conflict.
After decades in which the American mantra was “settlements in exchange for peace,” now the settlements are no longer called an obstacle to peace. Even if nothing else comes of this plan, its outline will remain the American position. The next president of the United States, whether in 2021 or 2025, will inherit it as the status quo. Any thought of reverting to the previous position will mean a downgrading of Israel’s status, a move even a hardened opponent of Israel would find difficult to pull off.
As expected, the plan includes Israeli control over large settlement blocks and the Jordan Valley. To gain a state, the Palestinians will be required to topple Hamas and agree to a country on a fraction of the West Bank.
Don’t hold your breath. The Palestinians have rejected the plan about 200 times so far, and they’ll reject it another 300 times going forward. The real ball is in Israel’s court. What will Jerusalem do in the absence of Palestinian cooperation? Here are five takeaways, from short term to long term.
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