The back-story is set. The history has been told. The players identified. So what’s the latest? In my last regular post for this blog, that’s the exact question I asked. According to this New York Times article, the situation remains relatively the same, but the relationship between the players has grown worse for wear. As the authors point out, Netanyahu made statements that he would not support a Palestinian state, and then quickly retreated saying he doesn’t think the current situation allows for such. At the same time, he made racist comments towards the Arab population of Israel. As the article states, this wavering stance and indecent treatment has led the US to reassess its position within the matter. A part of that reassessment, the article states, is the US’s position towards UN recognition of Palestine. According to the article, the US has made moves towards supporting such a decision. In the end, the author states, the US is still strongly supportive of a two-state peace agreement and that the recent actions of Netanyahu have nearly affirmed suspicions of his true intentions never to support such.

Along the same lines as the above New York Times article, this NPR publication seems to reaffirm the questioned current state and strained relationships. Discussing the current state of affairs (the publication was released just before Israel’s election) with several Palestinians, the presenter identifies a mixed outlook for the future, but an agreed upon sour look of the present. As two of his interviewees confirm, the Palestinian government is in dire straights and is not what the country needs to be able to advance its efforts for peace with Israel. While the men interviewed agreed there, their outlook for the future was split in favor of a single-state and two-state solution. The first interviewee called for a single, democratic state, saying that Israel’s advances into Palestine have gone so far that no two-state solution was possible. The second interviewee though, disagreed, and reaffirmed his position for a two-state solution. To reach that though, he stated that the current government needed to be completely overhauled and become a model of democracy. In doing so, he argued, Israel would have no choice but to recognize the State of Palestine.

The here and now is this: Netanyahu has been re-elected; Abbas continues to struggle with Hamas and wavers in his weak corner position; and Hamas is rumored to be in discussion with Israel to make Gaza its own state. So what’s new in this one-state, two-state, no-state solution debacle? In short, not much besides a worsening situation. As the above New York Times article states, relations between long-term allies are actually weakening as all sides continue to dig their heels in further. Abbas, once a revered leader, seems to be faltering in his position and continues to put off further democratic moves he agreed to years earlier. Hamas continues on its path of religious led terror. Netanyahu continues to play games as I think he pursues his ultimate goal: power (I think he doesn’t much care for the situation so long as he continues to reign supreme). And finally, the US is now being forced to re-evaluate its position as it continues to strive for a two-state solution. And yet, all of this, I think, is of little significance. For, politics aside, I think the true heart of the matter lies in the culture and education of the people on both sides of the issues. And on that bombshell, goodnight and see y’all next week!