Israel & Palestine | There's No Place Like Home
A New Plan for Peace.
This is from our Letters From The Founder publication.
Dear America Network –
Do you think peace in the Middle East is possible?
If your cynical side immediately got the best of you, I’ll scale down our scope and rephrase – is peace in Israel and the Palestinian territories possible?
If you’re still skeptical, you would be justified in your position given the historical precedent for conflict in the region. However, I’m here to tell you that peace is achievable, and we’re going to discuss how.
Conflict Resolution
Although conflict may be endemic to the human condition, the persistent, violent conflict we see in the Middle East is not. Let that create (at least) a sliver of hope for the more skeptical among you. Further, much of the conflict we see to this day in the Middle East can be attributed to the historical evolution of territorial boundaries, the rise and fall of empires, and ethnic and religious differences, as I’ve discussed before.
Although many of these challenges cannot be solved easily, fortunately for the purpose of establishing peace in Israel and the Palestinian territories, there have been many efforts over the years contributing towards a repository of reasonable solutions. These efforts were unfortunately never able to cross over the finish line. Yet, this is exactly why with wise and courageous leadership in the U.S., Israel, Arab partner nations, and ultimately an emergent State of Palestine, what I’ve called A New Plan for Peace, is within our reach.
America’s Role in the Region
Before diving into the peace plan, let’s briefly discuss what America’s role should be in the process in light of our broader grand strategy. As we know from those discussions, the Middle East region has become less and less of a geostrategic priority for the U.S. with respect to our other global priorities. Yet, it still makes our list, and the reality is that the U.S. has been a key player in the region’s politics for many decades – for better and for worse. Nevertheless, America continues to have many allies and partners in the region and will continue to hold geopolitical-sway for the foreseeable future. That being said, as our global focus has shifted, it is increasingly necessary for us to work with our allies and partners in the region to retain and improve conditions for stability and peace.
The most central of these working relationships in the region is between the U.S. and Israel – our strongest and most capable ally in the Middle East. Yet, as close as an ally as Israel is with America, there is no doubt that the most globally contentious issue for Israel, and the largest stressor on U.S.-Israeli relations, is the status and future of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank (i.e., the Palestinian territories). But simply reminding ourselves of our north star – Lead with American Values & Defend American Interests – it is clear that America’s support globally for liberal democracy and self-determination should be extended to Palestinians, just as it was to Jews and the State of Israel in 1948.
The majority of countries in the world – currently 146 out of 193 member states of the United Nations – already recognize Gaza and the West Bank as an independent State of Palestine. America’s diplomatic position to date has been that this is an issue for Israelis and Palestinians to resolve together, not for outside powers to decide unilaterally. This is a warranted caution in light of the messy history of outside powers determining borders in the region. Yet, after the October 7th, 2023 terrorist attack and ongoing war in Gaza, the time for America and the international community to lean into a definitive solution is now more than ever. That solution is A New Plan for Peace.
A New Plan for Peace
Step 1. The U.S. will continue to provide unequivocal, but not unconditional, economic, military, and diplomatic support to Israel. This one is very simple, yet gets overcomplicated by political posturing and partisan mood swings. Israel is America’s ally. America must back its allies. In a world of renewed competition between great powers where sides appear to be forming, our ally network is an increasingly valuable asset. Every decision America makes is a signal to the marketplace of nations.
As such, unequivocal diplomatic support for Israel’s security and right to defend itself – with the backing of American economic might and military force, if necessary – is essential. At the same time, the U.S. can and should be increasingly scrutinizing of the tragedy of war that is civilian deaths. As a strategically adept and situationally aware ally, these more nuanced discussions should clearly occur behind closed doors. In that setting, America should condition our significant, ongoing support to Israel on the development of a plan by Israeli leadership to end the war by charting a tangible path to the “day after.”
Step 2. Israel will provide a short-term plan to the U.S. for completing its war aims and winding down military operations. Detailed communication is expected given the significant support the U.S. provides Israel, including battlefield support that has put American troops lives at risk. Israel’s war goals should not only entail winning on the battlefield, but also restoring deterrence, such that an attack like October 7th does not happen again. ‘Winning’ on the battlefield has been described by Israel as bringing all remaining hostages home and dismantling Hamas’ military capabilities and ability to control Gaza. However, after October 7th, the battlefield quickly expanded to include four other warfronts in addition to battling Hamas in Gaza.
These groups together have been referred to as the ‘Axis of Resistance’, and include Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, militants in Syria & Iraq, and Iran. Fortunately, outside of a ground invasion into southern Lebanon, with U.S. and partners support Israel has been able to address these warfronts using targeted aerial attacks and assassinations of key leaders. This more surgical approach, as opposed to larger-scale bombing assaults, is highly preferred by the U.S. for obvious reasons. Every battlefield operation requires unique considerations, but U.S. and Israeli leadership must be in lockstep on the war path that maximizes Israeli security and the restoration of deterrence while minimizing civilian harm.
Step 3. The U.S. will work with Arab partner nations, such as Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Saudi Arabia, as well as intermediaries like Qatar, to elevate the responsible factions within the existing Palestinian Authority (PA) and Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), and create a new, reinvigorated, non-violent and demilitarized Palestinian government. This step is where partners of Israel and Palestinians play a key role.
In order for the peace plan to progress, there must be a Palestinian group of individuals or entity for Israel to negotiate with. This clearly cannot be Hamas. However, there are two other groups with overlap between them that are the most obvious places to start – the PA and PLO. Yet, taken as they are, they are both problematic in their current state. The PLO continues to oscillate between non-violence and affiliating itself with terrorist groups, such as Hamas, while the PA – even if it is the default choice of the international community – is widely seen as ineffective and corrupt by the Palestinian people and others.
Therefore, a new group of leaders must be identified and eventually coalesced into a Palestinian government. This obviously cannot be done by Israel and Palestinians alone. Rather, the U.S. representing Israel and Arab partner nations representing Palestinians, must work to identify and elevate the new, demilitarized Palestinian government. The specific Arab nations mentioned all support Palestinian statehood, have working relationships with the U.S., and are either already at peace with Israel (e.g., Egypt, Jordan, UAE) or on the doorstep of peace and normalized relations (e.g., Saudi Arabia, potentially via the Abraham Accords).
Step 4. Israel and the newly established Palestinian government will work with the U.S. and Arab partner nations to develop a plan for a Palestinian State by reviving and revising elements of the proposals from the Oslo Accords and Clinton Parameters, which will include a definitive timeline for the agreement to be enforced by U.S. and Arab partner nations as mediators. A so-called “two-state solution” is the only viable path forward for a sustainable peace. The State of Israel is here to stay in the region, and so are Palestinians. Whether in ancient times or today, continuing the cycle of pushing an entire people off their land only perpetuates conflict. Both Jews and Palestinians have experienced this tragedy, and it is being discussed again as a potential solution. Let me be clear – this will not bring sustained peace to the region – it will not work. To stop the cycle of violence, we have to stop the cycle of exile.
Instead, a two-state solution should be pursued that leverages the deliberate thought put into prior negotiations (e.g., Oslo Accords and subsequent Clinton Parameters). The Clinton Parameters are one of the most equitable, yet practical, proposals put forward in a serious way in the history of these negotiations. They are also in alignment with the spirit of the 1947 United Nations partition plan as much as is feasible, while making adjustments for the realities present in the region after multiple wars have been fought. Revisions are to be expected, but there is much substance already there to work with. Lastly, learning from our past mistakes, a key role of the U.S. and Arab partner nations as mediators will be to hold Israeli and Palestinian leadership accountable to forming an agreement by enforcing a deadline on negotiations.
Step 5. Throughout this process, and particularly towards the end, the U.S., Israel, and Arab partner nations will together leverage their combined Diplomatic and Informational capabilities to persuade civilian hearts and minds in Israel, Palestine, the Arab world, and ultimately the international community of the critical need and viability of the newly negotiated plan to bring peace to the region. This will be a coordinated Diplomatic and Informational campaign. It should be no surprise that after the October 7th attack and subsequent war in Gaza that only a minority of both Israelis and Palestinians see a future where they reside in nations next to each other, peacefully.
Israelis are justifiably concerned that what happened in Gaza and on a larger scale in Lebanon – when a militant Hezbollah formed, armed, and threatened Israel’s north for decades – could happen in a Palestinian State. This is why it is critical that the new Palestinian government agrees to become a demilitarized state for the foreseeable future. Yet, it will unequivocally require a persistent, ideally coordinated, campaign by leaders to convince both populations that this is the way forward – the way to a sustained peace. Leaders’ ability to exercise their countries diplomatic and informational power effectively could be the most influential factor in the entire peace plan. The effects of this soft power will likely prove to be the glue that holds a negotiated settlement, and ultimately a sustained peace, together.
Step 6. Arab partner nations will work with the new Palestinian government to rebuild Gaza. These countries know how to build, and can provide valuable expertise and Economic support to create a revitalized Gaza that Palestinians can be proud of. A Gaza with hope and opportunity will be a peaceful Gaza, and a more secure Israel.
Gaza has been devastated by war. But once the smoke clears, there will be an opportunity to rebuild and an opportunity for Arab partner nations to lead this effort. Natural resources have created enormous economic wealth in many of these countries. This Economic power, their appetite for infrastructure investment and development, and their historical support for Palestinians’ cause, make Arabs in the region not only the right partner for Palestinians, but also the best partner to join them on their journey to rebuild and revitalize Gaza.
Sustained Peace
A New Plan for Peace is comprised of six interdependent steps, that when combined, reinforce each other to create a sustained peace in the region. The leaders with the courage to spearhead this effort have an opportunity to make history.
As America fills our critical role in this peace process, we must remember what we stand for, not fall victim to short-sighted decision making, and proudly lead with our values.
Think freely,
Zack Spratling Founder & CEO Dear America Network
P.S. This has been a notoriously difficult challenge for the world for many decades. This letter speaks to the peace plan, but as you may have noticed, it is also peppered throughout with links providing further context on the history and rationale that inspired my development of the plan. If you want the full story of how the world got to where we are today with this situation, I highly recommend watching our Grand Strategy series on Israel.