The results of a recent confirm the growing anti-American attitude of most of the Arab world, and President Obamaās lack of meaningful action in the Israeli-Palestine conflict can be blamed for a good portion of it, according to , a University of 91³Ō¹Ļ political scientist and fellow in the .
āSince 1967, U.S. policy toward the region has tilted decisively in favor of Israel,ā Desch explains. āThe president needs to take a truly even-handed approach to dealing with the conflict, even though it may be risky and cut against the grain of historical U.S. policy.ā
One of Israelās arguments against a treaty with Palestine is the fear of ādelegitimizingā the Jewish state, which is why the prospect of the United Nationsā recognition of Palestine is so troubling to Israel.
āObama should threaten to abstain in this matter if the Netanyahu government continues to drag its feet in fully embracing the two-state solution, which is Israelās only hope for remaining Jewish and democratic,ā Desch says.
The president also needs to use that leverage āto bring Netanyahu around to accepting that the 1967 borders are the starting point for the two-state solution, that Jerusalem will have to be shared as the capital of both states, and that some provision, however symbolic, will have to be made for the Palestinian refugees of 1948.ā
An end to the conflict will not only benefit Israel and Palestine, but it also will advance U.S. interests, Desch says.
āAmericans tend to dismiss al-Qaedaās ā and other radical statesā ā embrace of the Palestinian cause as cynical rhetoric. But there is no doubt that the continuing Israeli occupation of lands most of the rest of the world regards as Palestine inflames anti-Israel and anti-U.S. sentiments and hinders our war against terrorism,ā Desch says.
Contact: Deschās comments may be used in whole or in part; he can be reached at mdesch@nd.edu or 574-631-2792.