LONDON: The White House’s peace plan all but assures the denial of Palestinian statehood, and may further alienate Israel from the international community, according to a new report by the Baker Institute for Public Policy.
Under the plan, “Palestinian statehood is conditioned upon a compilation of unreasonable and impractical thresholds,” wrote Gilead Sher, fellow in Middle East peace and security at the institute and a former Israeli government official.
“Given the total absence of Palestinian involvement in planning and implementing the deal, the current deal has no way of serving as is as a driver to resolving the conflict,” he said.
“Instead, it will further blur the borders between two states, as the Israeli right wing looks to ensure a continued presence in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank).”
The US plan, unveiled by President Donald Trump on Jan. 28, envisions a disjointed Palestinian state that turns over key parts of the West Bank to Israel.
The plan also sides with Israel on key contentious issues including borders, the status of Jerusalem and Jewish settlements.
The proposal offers Palestinians “little more than they already have,” and could “lead Israel down a perilous path to international demonization and social upheaval,” Sher wrote.
The plan not only creates problematic borders, but creates friction by “further entangling mixed populations,” he added.
Though the plan abandons the parameters of previous Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and lacks coherent policy, Sher believes it will continue to sit on the table for years to come.
But, he said, it will fail without significant Israeli restraint, complete resequencing and resourceful Palestinian initiative.
The Palestinian Authority, the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation have all rejected the plan.
