Richard Haass on the Israel-Gaza War
Katie Couric recently interviewed Richard Haass on the Israel-Gaza crisis.1
Haass says the Israeli government is not listening to Biden’s demands and he thinks Biden needs to be much more assertive, even speaking directly to the Israeli Knesset to oppose Netanyahu’s policies. (Netanyahu did the same to President Obama by speaking in person to Congress in 2015 against Obama’s own mild and largely ineffective policies for Israel-Palestine negotiations.2)
Haass warned in his Substack column last week:
Israeli policy still lacks anything resembling an endgame. I continue to believe President Biden should visit Israel and speak directly to the Israeli people, over the heads of this prime minister and this government. His focus should be on the immediate military challenge, reminding Israelis that what makes a war just is not simply its rationale but how it is conducted. …
Biden also needs to speak to what comes after. Here, unfortunately, there has been no progress. To the contrary, settlers are intimidating Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and there is now talk of expanding settlements into Gaza. The prime minster has also publicly ruled out the Palestinian Authority assuming a role in governing Gaza and Israel’s president has said the country will maintain a “very strong force” in Gaza. The only way Israel can avoid a long and costly, and ultimately unsuccessful, occupation of Gaza is to set in motion a political process that would, over time, bring about a Palestinian partner willing to live peacefully alongside Israel. To use a word that permeates this edition of Home & Away, when it comes to Palestinian political aspirations, there is not yet a floor upon which the foundations of a state could be built. Such a floor is desperately needed, and only the United States can start the building process.3 [my emphasis]
At this writing, the four-day temporary truce is officially in place but it seems to be touch-and-go as to whether it will hold for the full four days.4
Israel Hamas conflict: "This is not going well." Katie Couric YouTube channel 11/21/2023. (Accessed: 2023-21-11).
McGreal, Chris (2015): How Netanyahu's speech to Congress has jeopardised US-Israel relations. The Guardian 02/24/2015. <https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/24/obama-binyamin-netanyahu-congress-speech-boehner-leaks> (Accessed: 2023-01-11).
Haass, Richard (2023): Floors (November 17, 2023). Home & Away 11/17/2023. (Accessed: 2023-01-11).
Hamas Delays Hostage Release; Israeli Defense Minister in Gaza: 'Further Negotiations Will Be Held Under Fire'. Haaretz 11/25/2023. <https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-11-25/ty-article-live/hamas-delays-hostage-release-gallant-in-gaza-further-talks-will-be-held-under-fire/0000018c-0475-d4d0-addf-47ff86370000> (Accessed: 2023-01-11).
Try the Simplist first. Bypass the corrupt leadership and offer compensation and relocation to the 95% of Gaza residents who never enjoy the fruits of world financial support because it never trickles down to them. I have a feeling that that such an offer would be welcomed. Imagine that: nobody satisfied except Palestinian Gazans and Israelis.
There has never been and never will be a Palestinian partner who will be willing to live alongside Israel in Peace. We tried the Peace trail. Israel wanted it, Palestinians killed us for it. That is why no Israeli leader will listen to Biden or any other world leader suggesting such nonsense. The Palestinians are like Lucy holding the football. "C'mon, one more time. I promise I won't pull it back." Enough games.