Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates says that the consequences of the move of the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem are “modest” due to the dwindling likelihood of a two-state solution between the Palestinians and the Israelis.
Speaking to CBS News’ “Face the Nation,” Gates said:
“I think that the reluctance always before — because as has been pointed out, several previous presidents committed to move the embassy to Jerusalem — I think the hesitation has been, that it would end any prospect of an agreement between the Palestinians and the Israelis,” Gates told “Face the Nation” moderator Margaret Brennan.
He added, “I think the prospects of an agreement between those two parties, at this point, is so low that the other consequences of moving the embassy are probably more modest than they — more manageable than they would have been at any time in the past, mainly because the diplomatic connection to the Israeli-Palestinian issue is less important.”
Gates said the prospect of a two-state solution to end the long-simmering conflict is “on life support, barely.”
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4 Responses
Two-State Solution ‘On Life Support’? Just pull the plug.
Not sure it was ever born
Mr. Gates should introduce the idea of having another family (chosen at random illegally crossing the Mexican-US border) to live with him and his wife. This was we can call his residence a two-family solution.
But most Israelis and most Palestinians reject the idea of a “two-state” solution. At best, most are willing to settle for two states if they have no choice, and someone is pointing a gun at their head to encourage them to agree. That is hardly the basis for a lasting peace.