The current state of affairs in Palestine reflects a historical failure of policies that have exacerbated conflict rather than promoting peace. Despite the need for genuine efforts towards peace, the United States has continued to support Israel’s military actions and has defunded important institutions for Palestinians. The United States’ actions have resulted in safeguarding Israeli impunity and hindering accountability for Israel’s actions. This approach contradicts the rhetoric of recognizing Palestinian statehood while simultaneously defending Israel’s prolonged occupation in international forums.
The concept of partition has been utilized as a colonial policy tool by powers such as the British Empire in managing their colonies, including in Palestine. The Balfour Declaration in 1917 initiated the idea of a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine without adequate consideration for the Palestinians who were the majority population. The 1947 United Nations plan for partitioning Palestine into two independent states was rejected by neighboring countries and the Palestinian Liberation Organization, as it divided their homeland without their consent. Despite initial resistance to the idea of two states, the P.L.O eventually accepted partition as a pragmatic choice to achieve separateness from Israeli settlers and establish their own state.
Over the years, Palestinians have realized that the goal of partition was to maintain the illusion of a separate state while Israel continued its expansionist policies. Israel has relied on collaborating with discredited Palestinian leaders to sustain control and create non-sovereign, noncontiguous Bantustans that do not challenge its dominance. This tactic of demographic engineering, involving isolation behind walls, mirrors apartheid regimes and serves to obscure the reality that Israel governs over more non-Jews than Jews. The repetition of the two-state aspiration presents Israel as a Jewish and democratic state separate from its occupation, which masks the harsh reality of its control over the Palestinian territories.
The failure of policies towards peace in Palestine is evidenced by the continued conflicts, violence, and disregard for international law. The perpetuation of the two-state solution mantra without addressing the deep-rooted issues of occupation and colonization only serves to prolong the suffering of Palestinians and maintain Israeli impunity. It is essential for policymakers to acknowledge the failures of past approaches and work towards meaningful solutions that prioritize justice, accountability, and the rights of all people involved. Only then can there be a genuine path towards lasting peace and stability in the region.
