Apparently their first joint plan
Arab countries plan for two-state solution
January 23, 2024, 8:44 a.m
Israel and Hamas reject a two-state solution. Foreign Minister Baerbock criticizes this attitude. Germany and the USA are in favor of the creation of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. Now Saudi Arabia is said to have made a new push to resolve the conflict.
According to a media report, Arab countries are working on a proposal for a two-state solution after the end of the Gaza war. Saudi Arabia is offering to recognize Israel in return for the creation of a Palestinian state, the reported “Wall Street Journal” citing Arab officials. The proposal was made to Israel via the US and is the first joint plan by Arab states to end the Gaza war and a two-state solution, it said.
The details of the proposal are still being worked out; so far the Israeli government’s stance is negative. The establishment of a Palestinian state was the main point of contention, it was said. The concept of a two-state solution envisages that an independent, democratic and demilitarized Palestinian state should exist peacefully alongside Israel.
Before the Gaza war, Saudi Arabia, as an important protecting power for the Palestinians, had already held talks under US mediation about a possible normalization of relations with Israel, but this came to a standstill as a result of the war. From the perspective of the Islamist Hamas, the Lebanese Hezbollah militia and Iran, the main supporter of both groups, the emerging rapprochement would have been to their detriment. The brutal massacre by Hamas and other extremist groups in southern Israel on October 7th was therefore seen by some experts as an attempt by the Islamists to torpedo the rapprochement.
News of the Arab proposal comes as renewed diplomatic efforts to end the fighting are underway. After the USA, Germany and the EU are now increasing the pressure on opponents of a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was criticized at an EU meeting in Brussels on Monday. He made it clear at the weekend that he continues to reject a two-state solution after the end of the Gaza war.
Baerbock indirectly criticizes Netanyahu
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock indirectly criticized Netanyahu’s negative attitude. “All those who don’t want to know anything about it have not yet come up with any other alternative,” said the Green politician on Monday at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels. The militant Islamist Hamas also rejects a two-state solution, according to which an independent, democratic and demilitarized Palestinian state should exist peacefully alongside Israel. Hamas instead seeks to destroy the state of Israel.
Baerbock further said that it is now crucial to make it clear that Israel can only live in security if the Palestinians can also live in security and dignity. At the same time, Palestinians can only live in dignity, security and freedom if Israel lives in security. “That’s why the two-state solution is the only solution,” she said.
Germany will do everything in its power to get it off the ground. “This is beyond complex, but the alternative of doing nothing and just waiting is not an option for us,” she said. In addition to Germany and the EU, Great Britain and the USA are also pushing for the creation of an independent Palestinian state. US President Joe Biden’s Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk held talks in Egypt before traveling to Qatar, according to US media.