President Biden, your transformative next move – words to bring de-escalation, and peace

In the aftermath of Iran’s attempted mass missile strike on Israel at the weekend, President Biden is leading efforts to establish deterrence through a new regional security alliance that  the Administration hopes could avert the need for further escalation.

We can argue about the extent to which the new regional security alliance could or should substitute for an Israeli counter-strike. Nonetheless, whatever the arguments for and against, it seems that a large majority of Israelis see high value in the prospects of a regional security alliance. Most feel that Israel should not conduct a retaliatory strike if it would weaken this alliance.

While, G-d willing, we will never again experience another huge missile barrage like last weekend’s to confirm whether this emerging security alliance will hold, there is a truly transformative next move that President Biden could lead, a move which would not only consolidate the alliance and de-escalate the conflict, but also lay the foundation for a truly sustainable peace and deal a significant blow to Iran’s regional ambitions.

I could say, with 99% confidence levels, that if the following statement were to be issued, that Arab-Israeli Peace, and specifically Palestinian-Israeli Peace, would happen soon after – give it a maximum of two years.

The hearts of the Jewish people would be won, a spirit of compromise and goodwill would emerge like never before.

Declaration by the leaders and heads of state of the Palestinian Authority, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia:

“We, the leaders and heads of state of the Palestinian Authority, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, we, the Arab peoples in the region, forward-looking, seeking freedom and prosperity, founded on good relations with all, standing alongside our great ally, the United States of America, wish to make the following declaration.

“For too long, we have accepted a false dichotomy.

“We have been driven by love, loyalty, anger and a sense of justice. Emotions that everyone can understand.

“We have sought, with good heart, and in good faith, a secure and prosperous future for our brotherly Palestinian people, that they should enjoy sovereignty in their land, self-determination as a nation.

“But in so doing we have allowed, directly and indirectly, a narrative to take root that does not extend the same opportunities to our Jewish cousins.

“Yes, our Jewish cousins may be strong and prosperous, and our Palestinian brothers may be .weak and oppressed. But this should not be used to negate for our Jewish cousins their rights as a nation in their ancestral land.

“Therefore, let us say clearly and irrevocably, with one voice, we recognise the historic and continuing connection of the Jewish people to the land of Palestine, to the ancient and modern land of Israel. We recognise the rights of the Jewish people as a nation to statehood, sovereignty and self-determination in their land.

“We are determined to find solutions that will fulfil the rights and aspirations of both peoples, the Palestinian and the Jewish peoples, to statehood, sovereignty and self-determination in their land.

“We therefore commit to the following measures:

1. Exploring creative solutions for peace that will fulfil the legitimate rights and aspirations of the Jewish and Palestinian people alike.
2. Educating our people on the history of the Jewish people, building consciousness and consensus on their ancestral and continuing connection to the Land, and their rightful place therein alongside our Palestinian brothers. There shall be no place in our education systems, at any level, for anti-Jewish sentiment. There shall be no place in our education systems for anti-Israel sentiment, beyond the normal kinds of discourse that take place concerning any other country.
3.  Regulating our media and literature to remove any remaining traces, and keep free from anti-Jewish prejudice and anti-Israel incitement. We shall not restrict free speech, but we shall have zero tolerance for  hate speech, conspiracy theories and incitement.
4. Replacing the language and actions of resistance with the language and actions of tolerance and peaceful coexistence, and standing resolutely opposed to those that would hijack the Palestinian cause for their own reasons.

“We call on our Jewish cousins, and all the people of Israel, to engage with us in friendship, compromise and goodwill to pave the path to peace. It can be done.

“Specifically, we call for the following:

1. An immediate ceasefire in Gaza to allow for a negotiated solution that involves remediating the conditions of Gaza’s beleaguered civilians and, using all the pressure we can bring to bear, the release of all remaining hostages and the replacement of the current regime with a pro-peace government that will guarantee friendly relations with Israel, and transparent governance of a free, open, reconstructed and prosperous Gaza.
2.  A pause on operations in the West Bank, an easing of restrictions on movement, and a gradual restoration of rights for West Bank Palestinians to work in Israel, allowing for our collective effort to negotiate a full end to hostilities by all Palestinian factions, followed by disarmament, and a strengthening of the legitimate police and security functions under transparent, democratic oversight and the rule of law.
3.  A pause on operations against Lebanon and Syria, allowing for our collective effort to negotiate a full and final end to hostilities, the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, the creation of a demilitarised zone around the border areas in both countries, and the withdrawal of militias and weaponry in both countries that threaten regional stability.
4. A continuing respect for the holy places of all peoples and religions, in a spirit of Abrahamic solidarity.
5. The opening of negotiations towards a creative solution that fulfils the legitimate rights and aspirations of both peoples, the Palestinian and the Jewish peoples, to statehood, sovereignty and self-determination, alongside full, friendly and fraternal relations with the countries of the region, and beyond.”