A two-state solution or recycling the catastrophe?

Al Arabiya

2 days ago

Mahmoud's mother whispered to her daughter as she embraced her in the darkness of Gaza, 'We slept another night... and that alone is enough.'
The phrase isn't from a fictional historical novel – it is a real testimony documented by a healthcare worker in northern Gaza and reported by media outlets this year.
The words of this Palestinian mother reflect that staying alive in Gaza has become a luxury, and that a moment's sleep under the terror of bombardment is the most one can hope for.
The truth is, Gaza has become a catastrophic stage for destruction…Destroyed homes, power outages, scarce water, and hospitals hit by shellfire that are still trying to perform the bare minimum of their duties.
In the West Bank, the tragedy takes a different form…Settler bulldozers don't stop, homes are being demolished, and life is being crushed slowly –
in a scene that evokes little more than routine statements of international concern.
On the other side, Israel shields itself with its defense systems, iron domes, and deadly weaponry. Yet Israelis still do not feel truly safe. Military power alone does not create peace, and advanced technology cannot conceal fear.
In this bleak climate, Saudi Arabia returns as a regional and pivotal state with clear stances on the Palestinian cause and global peace.
It leads a serious political effort, and an international coalition aimed at achieving a two-state solution – a move that is both realistic and necessary to end a tragedy that has persisted for decades.
Within this context comes the international peace conference next week, specifically on June 17, hosted in New York upon a Saudi-French invitation.
It carries a message: The time has come for real international action to resolve this conflict and to achieve the two-state solution – to stabilize the region and lay the foundation for peace.
Riyadh's move stems from a long historical legacy of supporting the Palestinian cause and seeking solutions for a just peace in the region.
The Saudi vision is based on the principles of peace, stability, development, and prosperity as a right for all peoples.
That's why Saudi Arabia has never hesitated to support the Palestinian people – politically and financially – and has put forward initiatives to safeguard their rights.
The first Arab peace initiative came from King Fahd bin Abdulaziz in 1982 when he was Crown Prince, which later evolved into King Abdullah's initiative at the 2002 Beirut Summit, also while he was Crown Prince.
It eventually became the Arab Peace Initiative, which won full Arab consensus.
It's a cohesive plan that grants Palestinians their legitimate rights, guarantees Israel's security, and lays the groundwork for a just and genuine peace in the region – outside the hostile political calculations of Netanyahu and the extremists in his government, and beyond the reckless adventures of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other factions that have brought nothing but death, division, and destruction to the Palestinian people.
Notably, in this context, Harvard University – a prestigious American institution – issued a study in 2022 confirming that the two-state solution remains the most effective option for achieving a just and lasting peace.
The study warned that existing alternatives – whether prolonged occupation or crisis management – only lead to further extremism and collapse, keeping the entire region hostage to tension and violence.
Perhaps the New York conference marks the beginning of a new path – or perhaps not.
But it raises important questions: How much longer will this tragedy be met with denial and evasion by all parties to the conflict?
How long will the world keep hedging its positions on this humanitarian disaster?
What's certain is that staying silent on the Israel-Palestinian issue is no longer a neutral stance – and recycling the catastrophe is no longer possible… not morally, not humanely, and not politically.