Israel's chance to turn carnage into peace

Article by Dr. Jeffrey Sachs

Below is an important article by Dr. Jeffrey Sachs on how the current Israeli-Palestine conflict can turn into a peaceful outcome. Dr. Sachs was one of the many public intellectuals who warned that the ongoing NATO expansion would potentially provoke Russia into a war with Ukraine - andsadly he was proven correct.

Here is how a diplomatic solution could work. 

The UN Security Council would commit to the disarming of militant groups including Hamas and Islamic Jihad.  Countries funding and arming these groups, notably Iran, would agree to join with the UN Security Council in defunding and demobilizing these groups as part of the peace deal.  Both Saudi Arabia and Iran would establish diplomatic relations with Israel as part of the peace deal.  Israel and the UN Security Council would recognize a sovereign, independent, and secure state of Palestine, with its capital in East Jerusalem, and with full membership in the United Nations.  Palestine would be given sovereign control over the Muslim holy sites of East Jerusalem, including Haram al-Sharif. 

The five permanent powers (P5) of the UN Security Council — the US, Russia, China, UK, and France – all favor such a peace deal.  Indeed, Biden has recently reiterated US support for the two-state solution.  Moreover, there is scope for favorable diplomacy among the P5.  The US and China will soon hold a summit of President Biden and President Xi, and there are even glimmers of behind-the-scenes diplomacy of Russia and the US to sort out and end the tragic conflict in Ukraine. 

Iran can be brought on board to such a deal, as long as the deal includes the normalization of Iran’s diplomatic and economic relations with the EU and US. In 2015, Iran negotiated the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with the US and Europe to end Iran’s nuclear weapons program in return for an end to Western sanctions.  It was the US, not Iran, that brazenly withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018.  More recently, Iran has reconciled with Saudi Arabia and joined the BRICS nations, demonstrating Iran’s interest in dynamic and creative diplomacy.

The longer Israel continues its current incursions into Gaza, the more difficult its diplomatic position will be, and the less sympathy people will have for the October 7th 2023 terrorists attacks by Hamas.

Like Dr. Sachs, I honestly don't see Netanyahu's game plan.

If Israel swallows Netanyahu’s poison that “this is a time for war,” Israel will isolate itself from the rest of the world and pay a devastating price.  Israel’s attainable objective is lasting peace and security through diplomacy.  Israel’s friends, starting with the US, must help it choose diplomacy over war.  Friends do not let friends commit crimes against humanity, much less provide them with the finances and arms to do so.   

My view is that Israel should bring Hamas into a political settlement or go for an uncomfortable peace. This is how South Africa, Peru, the UK and a series of other countries defeated domestic terrorism.

Israel only has a bit of face to lose if it chooses to “negotiate with terrorism”, but it has a lot more to lose, if it continues the current assault on Gaza.

Hamas, like many other "liberation fronts" cannot possibly survive in a democratic system.