Originally published on the CGS blog on June 8, 2009.
On June 8th 2009, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars hosted a panel discussion on President Obama and the two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. The panel was moderated by Aaron David Miller, Public Policy Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center; and included Ziad Asali, President and Founder of the American Task Force on Palestine; Martin Kramer, Adelson Institute Senior Fellow at the Shalem Center in Jerusalem; and Samer Shehata, Assistant Professor of Arab Politics at Georgetown University. This provided a unique forum to explore Israeli, Palestinian and Egyptian perspectives on the two-state solution in light of Obama’s recent speech in Cairo.
Dr. Asali called for a compromise, defined as a two-state solution brought about by negotiation between Palestine, Israel, and the United States, as well as Egypt and Saudi Arabia. He lauded Obama for showing respect to and addressing the concerns of displaced Palestinians, noting that progress cannot be made when parties feel victimized. He believed that Obama has the political commitment that was lacking in previous administrations, and we as citizens have a direct influence upon this.
He also noted the significance of Obama’s approach to recognizing new challenges and navigating through them, saying that the U.S. should encourage Israelis, Palestinians and Arabs to work together to oppose the escalating threat of Iran. The U.S. should also not require Palestinian unity as a precondition for talks, especially with respect to Hamas, as this has been used to hinder progress with negotiations in the region. The Palestinians have been striving for a homeland for decades, and their calls should not be ignored on the grounds of disunity.
Dr. Kramer, however, warned the Obama administration against falling into the same traps as its predecessor in terms of fixating on so-called unfinished business. In particular, he discussed the importance of addressing the threat and influence of Iran as a top priority in the changing Middle Eastern landscape. He discussed new obstacles to the two-state solution, such as the diversity of Palestinians and Iran’s strategic interests in the West Bank changing as a result of its nuclear development. In addition, he advised Obama to deemphasize the urgency with which the issue has been framed, as this raises the asking prices all around.
On the other hand, Dr. Shehata discussed the influence of Egypt as moderator and its relationship with the U.S., saying that the road to Washington goes through Tel Aviv. However, he stressed that Egypt was not a neutral mediator but a direct party to the conflict, noting the effects that may have on its role in the negotiations. In terms of Obama’s June 4, 2009 speech in Cairo, Egypt, Shehata praised Obama’s sincere engagement and fair treatment of the conflict, clearly referring to illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank as an occupation.
Throughout the panel, many different opinions and perspectives were discussed to show the complex and intricate nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and how Obama will approach the two-state solution. Although this issue will not be resolved easily or quickly, we are confident in Obama’s ability to enhance the peacekeeping initiatives of the United States.
For more information visit:
http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=events.event_summary&event_id=536355
By Nora Conklin and Komal Hiranandani
