While the rest of the world clamors for a Palestinian state, Israel and the Trump administration appear to be united in a quiet effort to put that dangerous dream to rest.
Earlier this week, Israel announced it will resume building plans for the E1 neighborhood east of Jerusalem and on the outskirts of the large Jewish “settlement” of Maaleh Adumim.
Critics say the plan, frozen for nearly 20 years due to opposition from previous US governments, crushes Palestinian ambitions of making eastern Jerusalem their capital, and may make a Palestinian state altogether unviable.
A US State Department spokesman this week declined to criticize the move when asked by reporters, and instead signaled that the Trump admin knows a Palestinian state will bring more, not less conflict: “A stable West Bank keeps Israel secure and is in line with this administration’s goal to achieve peace in the region.”
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy took the opposition position, parroting the failed International diplomatic approach of the past 30 years: “The UK strongly opposes the Israeli government’s E1 settlement plans, which would divide a future Palestinian state in two and mark a flagrant breach of international law. The plans must be stopped now.”
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric worried the Israeli move could end hopes of ever establishing a viable Palestinian state.
But post-Oct. 7, that’s music to Israeli ears.
The barbaric Hamas invasion was made possible by Israel bending to international will and handing over a Jew-free Gaza Strip to the Palestinians 18 years earlier. Given the failure of that gesture, most Israelis are no longer willing to go along with the world’s schemes for their future.
A firm majority of Israelis now view an independent Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria as an existential threat.
See: 71% of Israelis oppose Palestinian state; 68% support sovereignty
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