The Road to a Viable Palestinian State Demands Incremental Progress
As a mediator at the Paris Center for Mediation and Arbitration I have been seeking a new and different perspective to understand the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
In a region marred by conflict, the recent brutal murder and rape of civilians as a war tactic by a neighboring country have shocked the world.
This atrocity challenges the notion that there can exist proportionate response in warfare.
However, amidst the clamor for justice and retaliation, a sobering perspective emerges from Israel.
A nation born from the ashes of adversity, surrounded by countries questioning its legitimacy, Israel finds itself grappling with a complex historical legacy.
From its inception on May 14, 1948, Israel has aspired to mirror the political and military prowess and strategies of former global powers, by a necessity to assert dominance in a hostile neighborhood.
Despite its relatively small size and population of less than 10 million, Israel stands tall as a world leader in science, medicine, and technology.
However, this remarkable success also breeds a sense of entitlement, as the nation positions itself as a beacon of progress amidst regions still grappling with barbarism.
Yet, as one Israeli observer cautions, this emulation of imperial strength and reliance on advanced Western technology may lead to myopic strategic thinking and miscalculations on the international stage.
In the pursuit of dominance, Israel risks overlooking the nuanced dynamics of diplomacy and the complexities of geographical and demographic environment.
The evolution of modern warfare, characterized by advanced weaponry and inevitable civilian casualties, demands more than just military might and technical superiority.
Drawing parallels to past conflicts, such as America's triumph in World War II, underscores the significance of industrial capacity and necessity to deploy overwhelming numbers of soldiers.
Despite this, recent years have witnessed that even global powers falter in their military endeavors abroad.
Israel, once hailed as the underdog triumphing over overwhelming odds, now confronts the realities of prolonged warfare.
Swift victories have given way to the sobering realization that sustained conflict requires not only military prowess but also industrial strength and societal sacrifice.
Moreover, amidst global scrutiny and criticism, Israel grapples with its perception of itself and its place in the world.
Proud of overcoming centuries of antisemitic sentiment, Israel's success and the perceptions of many in the West that it is waging a war to defeat barbarism on behalf of all of us may have, in some ways, obscured its understanding of its own limitations.
As it seeks to carve out its place in the 21st century, Israel must reckon with the impracticality of maintaining outdated paradigms of dominance, especially in the face of global intolerance for the actions of major powers.
In the midst of geopolitical turmoil, Israel stands at a crossroads, forced to confront its past, reassess its strategies, and chart a course towards a more sustainable and just future.
In witnessing Israel’s struggle we must attempt to understand the country's missteps without endorsing baseless allegations of intentional harm towards Palestinians or claims of disproportionate force.
In the fog of war, civilian suffering is inevitable, exacerbated by combatants' dressing in civilian clothes.
While it's valid to explore Israel's historical blind spots, we must acknowledge the immense challenge of expecting a level of wisdom surpassing even that of major world powers in this brief analysis.
The path to resolution beyond the internal Israeli struggle hinges on American diplomatic and military prowess.
U.S. President Joe Biden and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's bold initiatives offer hope for navigating the chaos, with Saudi Arabia's inclusion pivotal for regional peace.
Israeli leadership faces the daunting task of transcending entrenched extremist policies.
However, incessant Israel bashing from the global community undermines prospects for compromise as does trying to justify Hamas, Gazan, and Palestinian terror and violence against civilians.
Acknowledging the need for Palestinian statehood discussions, even in principle, is imperative.
Yet, all stakeholders must recognize the imperative of preventing future Palestinian territories from becoming havens for militant groups like Hamas or Iranian proxies.
The road to a viable Palestinian state demands incremental progress, economic stability, and a commitment to periods of demilitarization to achieve ultimately peaceful coexistence.
Mark L. Cohen has his own legal practice, and was counsel at White & Case starting in 2001, after serving as international lawyer and senior legal consultant for the French aluminum producer Pechiney. Cohen was a senior consultant at a Ford Foundation Commission, an advisor to the PBS television program "The Advocates," and Assistant Attorney General in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He teaches U.S. history at the business school in Lille l'EDHEC. Read Mark L. Cohen's Reports — More Here.
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