Editorial dissent: Israel must be involved in Palestine's future

The Middle East changed drastically Wednesday.

No land changed hands, no shots were fired, no treaties were signed. But one voting body changed the whole landscape of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

After a United Nations vote, Palestine was officially declared a non-member observer state. This gives Palestinians the ability to participate in committee meetings and, at the very least, have a say in the diplomacy of the world.

This, contrary to popular belief, does not anger Israelis as much as most might believe. In fact, a decent portion of the Israeli and Jewish-American community is actually in favor of a two-state solution.

Within hours of the official vote, which the United States and Israel both opposed, Israel approved the construction of 3,000 homes in an area of the West Bank and East Jerusalem that would effectively create a significant and literal roadblock to the creation of Palestine as an actual nation with land claims.

The move was a brilliant one on Israel’s part. With the UN taking actions despite the dissent of the Israelis, it became very clear Israel could be left out of the conversation. If Palestine is created as a nation with a set boundary of land without any discussion with the Israeli government, war will break out before the final votes are tallied.

The Israeli government’s actions guarantee that, at the very least, conversations will be forced to occur.  Peace in the Middle East is not as simple as giving everyone some land and a government and calling it a day. Issues must be sorted out and discussed between the two sides.

Creating a state without these conversations is not a step toward peace. It might be the opposite.

A quote by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been the anthem of peace
negotiations, or the lack thereof.

His statement, “If Israel were to put down its arms, there would be no more Israel,” is a frightening reality in the political landscape of the region. The involvement of American government has also been called into question. Far too many have asked why the U.S. voted against the creation of the state of Palestine. This is a very simple answer and one that is far too easily forgotten: Israel is America’s strongest ally in the
ever-changing Middle East.

With the American government behind them, the Israelis stand a fighting chance to stave off the vast military force backing the Palestinian community.

A two-state solution without peace talks with Israel will not be a two-state solution for long. If any type of insurgence occurs for the new country of Palestine to attempt to attain Jerusalem, one of the most hotly contested properties in the world, a shootout will ensure that only one state rises from the ashes.

It is the job of the United Nations to ensure this doesn’t happen and peace is found.

­— azoot@indiana.edu