We need substance, not gestures in pursuit of the two-state solution

Telegraph

2 days ago

The suffering we are witnessing in the Gaza Strip demands a response. All parties must do what they can to ensure every civilian has safe access to adequate food and medicine, along with the immediate return of the remaining hostages.
This moment of crisis requires practical solutions, not gesture politics. The push for the unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state by some politicians in this country, and by President Macron of France, cannot improve the situation.
The UK Jewish community and its major communal organisations have long supported a two-state solution, leading to a secure Israel alongside a viable Palestinian state. But recognising Palestine now will not help achieve that goal.
Hamas, having started this war with the brutal terrorism of October 7, are desperate for a propaganda victory to justify the immense suffering they have created. They will claim recognition of Palestine as a vindication of their murderous rampages and hostage-taking.
Further, unilateral recognition cannot substitute for the difficult negotiations and concessions needed to realise an enduring peace. Palestinian leaders have been offered two-state proposals in 1947, 2000, 2008, 2014 and 2020, rejecting them each time. This intransigence, and the incitement and corruption of the Palestinian Authority, must be abandoned. Israelis cannot be expected to sacrifice their security for a Palestinian state which could be the base for another October 7.
After decades of statements and declarations, it should be clear to all parties that declaring something does not make it the case. Any Palestinian state will need to be created to thrive in reality, not only in the minds of policy-makers. As UK ministers have rightly argued, recognition should be used when it can contribute materially to the endgame of a diplomatic process.
In our meetings with the Israeli government, and partners across the Jewish Diaspora, we have been clear that the need for consensual diplomacy, rather than unilateralism, also applies to Israel. The alarming rhetoric of some within the Israeli government, extremist settler violence in the West Bank, and the lack of a clear vision to end the conflict, has left many of Israel's friends unsure of how a sustainable 'day after' can be achieved.
In this complex and challenging moment, steps to advance a two-state solution should still be focussed on substance, not gestures. The immediate priority must be to ensure a massive expansion of aid to Gaza, the return of hostages and a lasting ceasefire. This aid must be delivered, whether by the GHF or other humanitarian agencies, in a way which ensures that the beleaguered population receives it but does not allow Hamas to continue to weaponise the aid to fund this war.
Beyond this immediate crisis, the ongoing need for peace building has never been more important. This includes both international diplomacy, such as the expansion of the Abraham Accords through normalisation with Saudi Arabia, and bottom-up initiatives both in the Middle East and at home.
We need to export peace, not import this conflict. We have told the UK Government that we stand ready to engage with them, the British Muslim community, Israelis, Palestinians, and other key actors, in support of a comprehensive plan that will make a Palestinian state beside a secure Israel a reality.
After the horrors of the last 21 months, lasting peace and security for Israelis, Palestinians and the wider Middle East must now be our urgent mission.