As fears of a regional war in the Middle East continue to escalate, the reality of a severely diminished Hezbollah in Lebanon may provide an opportunity for a path toward peace.
Uriel Abulof is a visiting professor in Cornell University’s government department and a professor of politics at Tel-Aviv University. Abulof says a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine should now be treated as a diplomatic imperative.
Abulof says: “A coalition of moderate Arab leaders has never been so ripe as now, having realized the mortal dangers inherent in the Iranian Axis of Resistance. The U.S. too dearly needs the move: a nuclear Iran means a third world war. This, moreover, is what most Israelis and Palestinians want, or at least need: To eradicate the radicals via force, finance, and a two-state solution.
“The missing piece in this daring puzzle remains Netanyahu, who would like to have it both ways – doing away with the Axis and forestalling Palestine – to stay in power. The U.S. can and should take the lead in pushing this piece to the right place by proposing an Israeli-Palestinian referendum on this vast security and peace package.
“The U.S. has the right carrots (helping to axe the Axis) and sticks (funding, armament, and UNSC veto) to make Netanyahu say yes.”
For interviews contact Adam Allington, cell 231-620-7180, adam.allington@Cornell.edu.
