The situation in the Middle East is becoming fraught with every passing day. On Tuesday, Iran launched over 200 missiles at targets in Israel, in response to killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and an Iranian commander in Lebanon. Earlier, Israel also assassinated Hamas political head Ismail Haniyeh during his visit to Iran. In recent weeks Israel has engaged in a series of reckless actions designed to plunge the region deeper into crisis. So far Iran had exercised restraint, but Israel mistook it as the country’s weakness. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu felt emboldened, warning at the UN that nowhere in the Middle East was beyond the reach of Israel, implying it can attack any country in the region, no matter the distance. He brazenly threatened to topple the Iranian regime, saying it will fall sooner than people think. These were explosive statements, and showed Israel is now hellbent on pursuing the hostilities in the region to the hilt. Netanyahu has already brought the situation to the brink by going on a killing spree of the leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, among them Haniyeh and Nasrallah. Should Israel continue on this dangerous path, it could inevitably ignite the entire region.
However, while Israel is hurtling the region inexorably towards annihilation, the powerful west is funding and arming it. It shows little urgency to restrain Netanyahu. On the other hand, the west threatens Iran with severe consequences for firing missiles at Iran in self defence.
The volatile situation erupted on October 7, 2023 after the Hamas attack inside Israel. Following day Israel invaded Gaza. Even since it has killed over 41,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and around 2,000 in Lebanon. The Palestinian territories have endured the longest occupation in modern history, a situation characterized by the expansion of Israeli settlements, security barriers, checkpoints, and the frequent use of force.
In recent years, geopolitical realignments in the region have taken place, such as the Israel-Arab reconciliation and the Iran-Saudi détente. Yet, these developments have conspicuously skirted the core issue—the occupation of Palestine. This original sin of West Asia continues to fester, with no end in sight.
To achieve lasting peace and stability in the region, it is imperative that the international community addresses the Palestinian question. Military interventions alone are cosmetic solutions that do not address the root cause of the conflict. The United States, as a key player in the region, must take a bold and courageous step forward.
Over the past year, the US has time and again been urged to recognize an independent and democratic Palestinian state living alongside a secure Israel, soon after the violence subsides. It is argued that once a Palestinian state under occupation gains international recognition, the negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian representatives for a lasting resolution can commence. But Israel will have none of it. It also refused the recent offer by the Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, that Arab and Muslim countries will guarantee Israel’s security if Jerusalem agrees to allow the establishment of a Palestinian state on the pre-1967 lines, This proposal may appear idealistic in the current climate of conflict and distrust, but it is the only viable path forward. The two-state solution, despite its challenges and setbacks, enjoys higher support among both Israelis and Palestinians than any other alternative. The status quo is unsustainable and detrimental to all parties involved. To avoid further bloodshed and suffering, it is imperative that we tackle the root of the problem—the unresolved Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is time to shift our focus towards a future where two states, Israel and Palestine, coexist in peace, security, and prosperity. Meanwhile, the west should prevail on Israel not to respond to Iran’s attack, as it could again compel Iran to retaliate in kind, triggering a devastating all out war.