President Donald Trump has effectively abandoned long-standing US policy on how to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. Appearing alongside visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week, Trump said:
Looking at two-state or one-state [solutions], I like the one that both parties like. I’m very happy with the one both parties like. I can live with either one.
Trump’s statement caused grave concern, particularly for Palestinians. In leaving open the option of a single-state solution, Trump broke with two decades of international diplomacy.
The intent and meaning of Trump’s statement ought to be of great interest to Australians this week. Netanyahu’s four-day visit marks the first time a sitting Israeli prime minister has visited Australia.
Australia’s prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, this week rejected the orthodox position that Israel is in violation of international law in Palestine. He condemned “one-sided” UN Security Council resolutions criticising Israel, and celebrated Netanyahu’s visit.
Turnbull’s repetition of Australia’s commitment to a two-state solution appears hollow in light of his government’s uncritical welcome of Netanyahu. Turnbull hardly appears to be a leader who will force Netanyahu back to the negotiating table.
But what would single and two-state solutions look like?
Read the full article by Amy Maguire at The Conversation.