One-State or Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Problem: Saga Continues

Map of the Current Problem Area (More of Less)

[click image for larger view]

I can’t or won’t even try lay out the history of the current conflict between Israel and the Palestine. Suffice it to say an excellent historical look is here – that plus the hundreds of books and such on the topic of “a one-state or two-state” solution to the problem. This post offers the most-recent flap that I want to address – that UN vote to condemn a one-state only solution.

So, how will U.S. foreign policy be made and how will domestic problems be solved ala President-in-waiting, Donald J. Trump? This UN flap kind of gives us a hint.

Secretary of State John F. Kerry said on Wednesday (Dec 27) that the United States allowed the passage a U.N. condemnation of Israel’s settlement policies as the only way to preserve a two-state solution on the verge of being destroyed. The U.S. you recall abstained in the final vote.

In response to Israeli criticism that the United States has abandoned and betrayed them, our closest ally in the Middle East, Kerry said no U.S. administration has done more for Israel’s security than the current one adding: “The vote in the UN was about preserving the two state solution. That’s what we were standing up for: Israel’s future as a Jewish and democratic state, living side by side in peace and security with its neighbors. That’s what we are trying to preserve, for our sake and for theirs.”

Kerry’s speech was aimed to address some of the issues that have contributed to a toxic atmosphere between the Israeli government and the Obama administration — even though Obama approved military aid for Israel worth $38 billion over 10 years, the largest of its kind in U.S. history.

Then the infamous T-3 kicked in: The Trump Tweets wherein he tweeted: “We cannot continue to let Israel be treated with such total disdain and disrespect. They used to have a great friend in the U.S., but.......not anymore. The beginning of the end was the horrible Iran deal, and now this (U.N.)! Stay strong Israel, January 20th is fast approaching!”

A return tweet from Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu contained his gratitude saying: “President-elect Trump, thank you for your warm friendship and your clear-cut support for Israel!”

So, U.S. policy will be comprised of 140 characters or less? This ought to be very interesting, and quite frankly, a bit unnerving and hard to explain.

Nevertheless, the new Trump reality show will continue and he is, as the expression says: “Will be in hog heaven.”

View of the new Oval Office for the part-time president that ties directly into this post:

Trump and Bibi

Thanks for stopping by - and stay tuned, which I am sure you will.

Added after this was posted: John Kerry speech today via C-SPAN explaining our abstain vote was great... worth watching on C-SPAN here: