The Status Quo: Accepted or Unsustainable?

Having been here in Jerusalem for the past four months, I have had much time to think about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and consider its future.

I believe that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can and will only be solved first by political means. This is a point that I have recently adopted over the past year or so of studying the conflict and hearing from the many different leaders involved. There are thousands of different NGOs present in Israel and across the territories, and I think many of their true potentials will only be reached once a negotiated deal is signed by the two parties. One Voice Palestine and Israel, for instance, are completely hindered from operating to their full potentials due to a political reality that fosters anti-normalization, anti-interaction, and the maintenance of the status quo. This leads me to believe that a negotiated deal, if achieved honestly and justly, can be carried out and maintained by the popular good will of the people on both sides.

The question then becomes how to get the two sides to the table and agree on a deal. I take issue with the lopsided focus on Israeli perpetuation of the status quo when compared to the Palestinians'. Israelis are not rushing to the negotiating table for a number of reasons. The relative "stability" of the current status quo, coupled with the onslaught of terror across the region, leads mainstream Israeli voices to not champion the Palestinian issue. The above points are particularly more relevant to the Israeli right. I do believe, however, that once a center-left government takes power in Israel (within the next 5-10 years, in my opinion), the two sides will return to negotiations and achieve a comprehensive deal with mutual compromises. 

On the Palestinian side, there seems to be an acceptance of the status quo as well. This of course contradicts much of what Palestinians say abroad, but I believe there is much truth in the statement. The status quo keeps Palestinians as victims in a showing of disproportionate force in which Israelis are always wrong and Palestinians are always victimized. Projects like Rawabi point to the fact that the PA has little interest in state-building and responsible governance over Area A. In addition to this, the relentless embracement of the Right of Return, and its acceptance in Palestinian society as a given, is doing little to change the status quo. I recently took a day trip to Ramallah with three friends. Adorning the streets and public squares were calls for a return to all land previously owned in Israel. This idea is a dangerous one because the right of return is often a non-starter with Israeli negotiating teams, with precedence only outlining symbolic returns for small numbers of Palestinians.

This leads to the question of courses of action. How do we effectively change the status quo, or at least the feasibility of the current status quo? Regarding the Israeli side, the question of security and counter-terrorism efforts must be addressed. With America and the rest of the international community keeping one foot on the sideline in the fight against the Islamic State and other terrorist organizations in the region, there is a feeling in Israel that it would not get the support it needs if a peace deal goes sour. The situation with Iran gaining more and more influence in the region is also a further affirmation of Israeli security concerns, with Tehran eyeing the West Bank as its next foothold in the region. A stronger international and American presence in the region that could counter the destabilizing forces would give Israel the increased confidence in reaching a peace accord with Arab leaders. 

Regarding the Palestinian side, I believe there needs to be an increased focus on its internal political sphere and state-building efforts. The PA is in the tough position of constantly having to win the support of its people in efforts to counter the popularity of Hamas amongst its people. This translates into political rhetoric that does not have much footing in the negotiating room, such as the signs I saw last week saying, "Return is our right and its fight is our will". By not focusing on Palestinian politics, the international community is effectively not allowing any room for the Palestinians to break out of victimhood. Corruption within the Palestinian Authority is also a huge problem that often gets a free pass due to this complete lack of interest in Palestinian politics. I do certainly recognize the Israeli role in Palestinian victimhood, but I believe the international community can serve a much more positive role in changing the status quo.

While this post may not be the most optimistic and empowering, I think it is important to truthfully look at the political realities and ways of shifting the status quo. I do believe a peace deal will be inked in the somewhat foreseeable future, but only through natural means and not imposed ultimatums.