Iran’s missile and drone attacks on Israel last weekend were a game-changing escalation that required a game-changing rethink on the part of Israel and its most important ally, the United States. I call it the “Three Kingdom Solution.”
It begins with the recognition that without leadership change in Tehran, Jerusalem, and Ramallah, there is probably no hope of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian and Israeli-Iranian conflicts.
Starting with Tehran: I do not support any Western attempt to overthrow the Islamic Republic of Iran from the outside, but I pray that one day the Iranian people will overthrow it from within.
“As long as the current regime remains in power in Tehran, there will be no meaningful peace or stability in the region,” said Karim Sadjadpour, an Iran expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “Because Iran’s vast resources and training fund the 5% of fanatics who are making life hell for 95% of Palestinians, Lebanese, Syrians, Yemenis, and Iraqis who just want to live in peace. In the words of Shimon Peres regarding the prospects for change in Iran, the good news is that there is no tunnel today. .”
Given the number of times Iranians have challenged the theocracy and been crushed by its iron fist, it is clear that the will is there. I just hope they find a way as soon as possible.
Because Iran and Israel were once natural allies and the two largest non-Arab powers in the Middle East. That changed with the Islamic Revolution of 1979. A regime has emerged in Tehran that prioritizes the spread of Islamic ideology and the destruction of the Jewish state of Israel over the welfare of the Iranian people. If Iran were a normal nation that prioritized the advancement of its own people over the destruction of others, that would be a huge change for the region.
It’s a good thing the Tehran regime’s launch of more than 300 drones and missiles toward Israel on Saturday didn’t make it that much more popular in the region. Most were intercepted or crashed before they could do any damage. In fact, social media accounts in the Arab world are filled with jokes mocking the Iranian regime, which is basically 0:300. suggest Only people have died from laughing.
When I say we need regime change in Ramallah, I am referring to the corrupt and incompetent Palestinian Authority led by 88-year-old Mahmoud Abbas. Why is the Palestinian Authority so important? Because it is still open to living in peace with Israel, and the Oslo framework is meant to lead to two states for two indigenous peoples. That is what makes a strong Palestinian Authority the keystone of Israeli-Palestinian peace and a sustainable Arab-Israeli-Western alliance to deter and counter Iran.
So if you want to be pro-Palestinian today, if you want to be pro-Israel, pro-American-Saudi-Israel Accords, pro-Abraham Accords, or anti-Iranian regime, the most meaningful thing you can push for is The only thing you can do is, or you can volunteer to help transform the Palestinian Authority into an effective governing body that is expert-led, free of corruption, and accountable to its donors.
If dismantled, this type of Palestinian Authority could become a partner in a two-state solution with Israel and rule Gaza alongside friendly Arab forces, replacing the Israeli military and replacing the pro-Iranian and Israel-hating Hamas. .
I generally have high praise for the Biden team’s work in responding to the extremely difficult and complex war in Gaza and, over the weekend, helping Israel deal with Iranian missile attacks. One major mistake, however, was Abbas’s reluctance to appoint a “new” government led by his longtime ally, businessman Mohammad Mustafa, in March. It was not the transformative government many Palestinians expected, moderate Arabs demanded, and the Palestinian people desperately needed.
As anyone who has reported from the West Bank knows, there is a wealth of leadership talent among the Palestinians there, as well as abroad, with highly educated and capable men and women. . But the Palestinian Authority, which needs to have the best Palestinians at this critical moment, has too few people selected.
Countries like the United Arab Emirates are prepared to advise, train and finance the transforming Palestinian Authority, and even stand alongside armed groups in the Gaza Strip, but only if President Abbas It won’t happen until he retires. The authorities need a proven and incorruptible system builder in the mold of former Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, an example of the greatest Palestinian leadership in history.
This leads to why a change of leadership is needed in Israel today as well. No one has done more to derail and prevent the creation of an effective Palestinian Authority than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Prime Minister Netanyahu spent years ensuring that Hamas had sufficient resources from Qatar to maintain power in Gaza and prevent the creation of a unified Palestinian decision-making body. – At the same time, he denounces all the shortcomings of the Palestinian Authority. Prime Minister Netanyahu has never praised the authorities for their commitment to non-violence (unlike Hamas) or the security forces for preventing Israel from blowing up the West Bank, despite the significant expansion of Israeli settlements. There wasn’t. We now know that Prime Minister Netanyahu’s approach is disgraceful and he is not in Israel’s interests.
Many Palestinians and supporters of Palestine abroad are saying today that if Israel says there is no difference between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, then maybe we should all join Hamas. How would that benefit Israel?
Moreover, in October last year, Israel, under the leadership of Prime Minister Netanyahu, left without an exit strategy or plan for the next morning, and without a Palestinian partner who could govern Gaza with friendly Arab forces if Israel was able to topple the Hamas regime. invaded Gaza.
Prime Minister Netanyahu will not be affiliated with the Palestinian Authority because he is on trial for corruption and would need to keep his job in order to secure a plea deal if he is found guilty. The only way he can do that is by relying on the far-right Jewish supremacist/settler parties in the coalition government, but since it means the Palestinian Authority will be a legitimate partner in a two-state solution, The self-governing government refuses to become an effective governing body. That would force Israel to abandon all or part of the West Bank.
This is not only very dangerous for Israel in terms of the future of Gaza, but also for the conflict with Iran, which, as we can now clearly see, is about to reach a whole new level.
As evidenced over the weekend, Israel could not effectively counter Iranian missile attacks without a regional alliance — without close coordination with Jordan and the Arab Gulf states, early warning detection and Jordan’s case actually failed to provide both shootdowns. Iranian missiles and drones heading for Israel. Israel also relied on the support of the United States, British and French air forces, and the United States Navy.
Attention, attention, attention: If Israel had a government determined to annex Western countries, the United States, Jordan, and Israel’s Arab and NATO allies would maintain a long-standing conflict with Iran and openly threaten Israel. It is a complete illusion to believe that it can be defended. Not only can it remain in Gaza without a legal Palestinian partner, but it can also bank and establish settlements in all sectors.
Since October 7, Israel’s popularity has been declining throughout the Western world, not to mention the Arab-Islamic world. Unless Israel shows a change in attitude towards the Palestinian Authority and plans to leave Gaza, the support it garnered for Iran over the weekend is unsustainable.
But let’s fantasize a little in a different direction. Tomorrow, Israel will announce its intention to freeze new settlements, transfer further governance and security responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Gaza, and replace the Palestinian Authority once its capacity is established. Imagine what would happen if you announced your intention to invite them to the United States. What would immediately happen if the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia helped bring the Palestinian Authority to that level and fund its institutions?
Both Iran and Hamas will be cowed more than an Israeli missile attack could accomplish.
“Oh my god,” the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and Hamas will say. “That’s a disaster. It means we can’t simply continue to delegitimize Israel in the West. It means the conditions for the US-Israel-Palestinian-Saudi Security Treaty are in place. And that means Arab governments will be able to work more comfortably and openly with Israel against Iran and its proxies. That’s a disaster.”
It also means that Iran will no longer be able to pretend to be the great champion of the Palestinian cause – simply concealing its malign desire to destroy the Jewish state and protect its own people, especially women and girls. It’s just a pose that distracts from the crushing death of . , and their democratic aspirations.
At the same time, cooperation with Israel will no longer be so politically harmful in American and Western capitals. And to Moscow and Beijing, cooperation with Iran will look as cynical as being pro-Hamas rather than pro-Palestinian.
Yes, I can say that. There is nothing more strategically beneficial for Israel than this.
But that cannot and will not happen as long as Prime Minister Netanyahu remains in power.
We are currently in a chaotic moment in the Middle East. What I know for sure is that an effective, credible and legitimate Palestinian Authority is the cornerstone of any decent outcome – a sustainable two-state solution, a sustainable Arab response to Iran.・The Israeli alliance, a sustainable US and NATO Middle East policy that protects the Palestinian state, etc. The goal is to separate democratic Israel from theocratic Tehran and permanently remove the “Palestinian card” from Iran’s hands.
But that requires leadership change in Tehran, Ramallah, and Jerusalem (not Washington).
The Times is committed to publishing Diversity of characters To the editor. Please let us know what you think about this article or article.here are some chip. And this is our email: letters@nytimes.com.
Follow the New York Times Opinion section. Facebook, Instagram, tick tock, whatsapp, X and thread.
