President Trump and the Palestine Question
Trump’s plan for Gaza has drowned any attempts for now of a negotiated solution to the Palestine question.
By Cristina Equizabal Mendoza* (Confidencial)
HAVANA TIMES – Last week, US President Trump surprised all with his declarations on the future of the Gaza strip. The US head declared his intention to take over the reconstruction of Gaza and transform it into a Mediterranean Riviera, like – for example – a Middle Eastern Monaco.
The US “would acquire” the strip and assume the planning of the real estate project, while the cleanup of the debris and the actual work of carrying out the project would be assigned to construction companies of varied origins. The Israeli Army would be in charge of pacification.
Of course, it would be necessary to depopulate the strip and find a destination for the nearly 2 million Palestinians who live there.
Trump proposed that Egypt and Jordan take them in, offering them nice and welcoming places to live, with the aim of incentivizing them to leave their homes, already destroyed by Israeli bombs. Recently, Israel has also contemplated Somaliland as a place that could shelter them. Somaliland is a territory in the Horn of Africa that seceded from Somalia in 1991, but doesn’t have international recognition.
Naturally, the Republican president’s proposal was front page news all over the world. The general question was: Is he serious or is it just a wild idea that occurred to Trump? It’s a question we’re still asking ourselves, both inside and outside the US borders.
Some analysts believed that the president’s declared intention was a negotiation tactic, used by the president within the framework of his foreign policy strategy and based on the military concept of “shock and awe”. If so, it would be a ploy of laying on the table an unreachable objective with the aim of arriving at less ambitious agreements.
The White House spokesperson has clarified that no US troops will be sent, nor will Washington assume the costs of this pharaonic project. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called it a very generous proposal, while Michael Waltz, US National Security Advisor, has declared that it’s really an example of thinking creatively and forcing the countries of the region to seek their own solutions.
Others alleged that the explosive declaration amounted to a communications strategy of the President known as “flood the zone.” which involves contaminating the informational ecosystem with false truths, exaggerations, and contradictions, with the goal of paralyzing critical opinions on other topics.
A third group thought it could be meant as a green light to the most radical right-wing Israeli sectors, signaling to them that the expulsion of Palestinians is a viable option. And further, that Washington wouldn’t oppose an occupation of Judea and Samaria – known to the world as the West Bank. It could also be a wink to his fans in the evangelical Christian community, a deeply pro-Zionist group.
Days have now passed, and Trump’s proposal is still in the arena. The Arab countries have unanimously condemned the plan and have reiterated their support for the idea of two national States. Egypt and Jordan have refused outright the idea of accepting Palestinian refugees into their territory. Receiving enormous numbers of Palestinian refugees would be an extremely destabilizing factor for both countries that already shelter numerous Palestinian communities.
Although Hamas has been the political force governing Gaza for the last few years, the Gaza strip continues to form part of the Palestinian State, a non-member observer in the United Nations and a State recognized by over 100 countries, including Costa Rica. Even the United States, which doesn’t recognize Palestine as a State, does accept the validity of passports issued by the Palestinian Authority.
If the US really wants to take over the Gaza Strip it’s with the latter entity that they’d have to negotiate the acquisition of the territory. Otherwise, they’re left with no other remedy than to take it by force, in an act of pure colonialism. The Palestinian Authority wouldn’t turn over half the territory of their State, not for all the money in the world.
The United Nations has reminded President Trump that the ethnic cleansing signified by even the voluntary removal of Gazans is a crime against humanity, prohibited under international law as well as international humanitarian law. The forced expulsion would bring with it high levels of violence for extended periods of time. It would be nothing more or less than a second nakba [meaning “disaster,” it’s the term Palestinians use for their forced expulsion from their lands in 1948.]
Very clearly, the proposal wasn’t consulted with any of those directly involved, beginning with the Palestinian Authority, much less with Hamas, which the US considers a terrorist organization. Nor were the governments of Egypt and Jordan consulted. The ideas of sovereignty and self-determination appear to be foreign notions to the Republican president.
Unfortunately, it’s very early to reach any conclusions. The situation is tremendously fluid, and the voices – in both the United States and Israel – speaking out in regards to this proposal are diverse and often contradictory.
Two things are clear: first, that the Arab countries are resoundingly opposed to this project and have spoken clearly, including Saudi Arabia, one of the regional leaders and best friend of the Trump family; secondly, that the declarations of the real estate tycoon have sent any attempt for a negotiated solution to the Palestine question off to never-never land.
*Article originally published in the newspaper “La Nacion” from Costa Rica.