Gaza War: Israel is losing badly in the battle of perceptions
US support. Yet, this backing could run thin if America re-invests in the wisdom of a “decent respect for the opinions of mankind" in the context of how its overseas image is shaped by its Israel policy. It makes sense for all sides to grab an olive branch that puts an end to hostilities.
If local Israeli politics is an obstacle, then it is even more important for America to push for a truce and play peacemaker. Netanyahu’s newly restive cabinet colleagues are right that Tel Aviv must declare a clear post-war plan for Gaza. Full re-occupation would mean a return to a scenario given up in 2005 and will be taken as a move backwards in the peace process, while allowing a Palestinian administration to work under Israel’s military oversight might prove a non-starter, especially if other countries are asked to help rebuild a Gaza that lacks sovereign control over itself.
The options may be few, but any real settlement of the dispute will have to respect the right of Palestinians to self-determination. As Israel would be reluctant to give up its Jewish identity to fully embrace religious diversity, a two-state solution suggests itself, with the sovereign states of Israel and Palestine sharing Jerusalem. This has long been considered the most feasible lasting solution, with Palestinian refugees allowed to return to their state—in Gaza and the West Bank—but not Israel.
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