The United States wants to push for a two-state solution to end the conflict in Gaza, but Israel has repeatedly rejected the wishes of its closest ally.
After more than three months of fighting, the conflict between Israel and Hamas shows no end and leaves some 25,000 people dead. In the face of domestic and international pressure, President Joe Biden's administration wants to find a solution to end the conflict and stabilize the situation in the region.
In the Biden administration's view, a blueprint for managing Gaza after the war will lay the groundwork for lasting and far-reaching change in the region. The plan will include the establishment of a Palestinian state, guarantees of Israel's security and the normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
The White House believes that these measures will limit the destabilizing capabilities of Israel's "adversary" Iran in the Middle East. Biden's advisers say it's a viable plan, although it will require tough decisions from countries in the region.
"It's hard to imagine, but it's really the only way to bring peace and security to all," said Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser.
One of the first issues that the United States must address is to change Israel's stance on the conflict. They need closer allies to take more aggressive steps, reduce military activity, and allow humanitarian aid to flow into the Gaza Strip. Washington also needs to persuade Tel Aviv to negotiate a temporary ceasefire with Hamas to facilitate the release of the remaining hostages.
The most difficult task is to negotiate the establishment of a Palestinian State living side by side with the State of Israel. This is a two-state solution that has long been agreed upon by the international community and is seen by the United States as the best way to end the conflict.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly poured cold water on the ideas put forward by US allies.
U.S. President Joe Biden, left, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv on October 18. Photo: Reuters
On January 18, at a press conference in Tel Aviv, when asked about reports about his opposition to the idea of a Palestinian state, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "In any agreement, Israel needs to control the security of the entire territory of western Jordan." This contradicts the idea of Palestinian sovereignty. ”
Netanyahu then took a more radical stance: "I will not compromise all of Israel's territory west of the Jordan River on total security control," stressing that "the creation of a Palestinian state could pose an existential threat to Israel." ”
The western part of Jordan includes the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza. The Israeli leader later added that "the current conflict is not about the lack of a Palestinian state, but about the survival of the Israeli state." ”
This is not the first time Netanyahu has voiced his opposition to the idea of a Palestinian state. He said last December that Israel would not allow the Palestinian Authority to take over Gaza, the most positive response to the United States' plans for the future after the Gaza conflict.
"I will not allow those who train, support or finance Hamas into the Gaza Strip after the huge losses of soldiers and civilians," Netanyahu said, referring to the Palestinian Authority that controls the West Bank.
Despite his unwavering support for Tel Aviv, behind the scenes, the U.S. president and senior officials are increasingly frustrated with Netanyahu's insistence on rejecting a two-state solution.
At a political rally in the United States in December 2023, Biden first warned of the risk of Israel losing global support. "Israel's security may depend on the United States, but it has more than just American support. They are supported by the European Union and many other countries around the world. However, they began to lose this support due to indiscriminate bombing," he said.
U.S. officials said on January 18 that they would not allow Netanyahu's current stance to stand in the way of efforts to advance the plan with his Israeli counterparts.
A senior White House official noted that Netanyahu's new comments were unlikely to be his last, adding that Israel's wartime cabinet chief's stance was far less tough than it was initially.
"If we take this as our final stand, it will not be possible to bring aid into Gaza or release the hostages. We will continue to work to achieve appropriate results," said a senior US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The public disagreement between Netanyahu and Biden came last December, when the number of casualties in Gaza rose and the two sides became increasingly at odds with each other's views on the post-conflict future for the Palestinians. The United States has expressed hope that Israel will reduce the intensity of its actions and focus on Hamas leaders and members, rather than launching large-scale attacks that kill civilians.
"I want them to prioritize saving civilian lives. It's not about stopping the campaign against Hamas, it's about doing it more cautiously," Biden said last month.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Netanyahu at a recent conference, "Every partner I met expressed their willingness to support a lasting solution that would end the violence and keep Israel safe." He added that they are ready to help rebuild and establish governance mechanisms in the post-conflict Gaza Strip.
"However, they stressed that this can only be achieved through a regional approach, including a solution to establish a Palestinian state," Blinken said. ”
He said that if Tel Aviv wants its Arab neighbors to participate in ensuring long-term security in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli leadership will have to "make difficult decisions on their own."
As the election campaign in Gaza drags on, both Biden and Netanyahu are facing increasing domestic political pressure. The US president has been plagued by pro-Palestinian protests, asking him to call for a ceasefire and force Israel to end its operations.
At the same time, Israel's prime minister is under intense pressure to free more than 100 hostages from Hamas. His government has also been criticized for security failures that led to Hamas attacks.
Israel's popularity with Netanyahu has declined since the attack, and the hostage's refusal to release has increased pressure on him. In response to calls for his resignation, Netanyahu said that Israeli politicians who have asked him to resign as prime minister essentially want a Palestinian state.
"Those who discuss a post-Netanyahu future are actually talking about the creation of a Palestinian state," he said, adding that the Israeli prime minister needed to be "able to say no to our friends."
Smoke rises in December 2023 as Israel launches an offensive in the Gaza Strip. Photo: AFP
Asked about Netanyahu's comments, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on January 18 that President Biden's desire for a Palestinian state "will not change."
"We will not stop working towards this," he said.