Influential journalist Arnaud de Borchgrave tells Newsmax that the fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has made the “two state solution” for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict virtually impossible in the near future.
De Borchgrave, editor at large for The Washington Times and United Press International and a Newsmax columnist, also said that a “geopolitical deal” between the U.S. and Iran would be best for Israeli security in the long run — even if Iran acquires nuclear weapons.
Asked by Newsmax’s Ashley Martella for his views on the current Israel-Hamas clash, de Borchgrave said it is certain that the two-state solution establishing separate Jewish and Palestinian entities “has been postponed for as far as anyone can see into the future. What has happened is that the geopolitical can has been kicked down the road once again.
[Editor's Note: Watch the Arnaud de Borchgrave video - Go Here Now]
“It’s very hard to see how the Israelis, after what has just happened, would agree to an independent state in the West Bank, where Hamas is very strong underground, even though not in charge — Fatah is officially in charge. The Hamas underground has become more and more consequential over the last year or so…
“I very much doubt if I will see that [solution] in my own lifetime.”
Asked if the two-state solution would be the only move that would stop the violence, de Borchgrave observed: “The only thing that would stop the violence today would be for Israel to stop shooting. At that point it would be very difficult for the Hamas people to go on firing these rockets into Israel, [but] that’s not about to happen.
“I think there is a lot of work for the Israeli Defense Forces that remains to be done according to their particular schedule, which is to uproot the Hamas underground…
“I don’t think the Israelis realized how much work would have to be done just as they really didn’t take full cognizance of what would happen when they went into Lebanon two and a half years ago. It ended in a bit of a stalemate there and it could very well end in a bit of a stalemate in Gaza.”
As for Iran, de Borchgrave noted that several American military commanders have said the U.S. “should learn to live with an Iranian bomb, in return obviously for a geopolitical deal which would have to include things like no more support for Hezbollah and Hamas, no more support for terrorist organizations.
“The deal could also mean diplomatic recognition, lifting of all sanctions and a nonaggression treaty on the table. I think that is the overall picture toward which President Obama would like to go.”
Martella asked: “Where would that leave Israel?”
De Borchgrave responded: “Obviously Israel needs the kinds of guarantees it still enjoys from the United States. It doesn’t mean that Israel is going to be any less secure if there is a geopolitical deal with Iran. If there isn’t one, and if we move into a confrontation with Iran, then obviously the future of Israel is very much at stake.”
[Editor's Note: Watch the Arnaud de Borchgrave video - Go Here Now]
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