Bibi Netanyahu’s Baby Step

A few days ago, Daniel Temkin wrote optimistically about the potential for progress towards peace under Netanyahu and Obama, comparing the political climate to that of 1977 under Begin and Carter, when the Camp David Accords created a lasting peace between Israel and Egypt.  At the end of his post, Daniel mentioned the expectation that Netanyahu would declare his support of a two-state solution to the current conflict. 

Well, Bibi gave his speech on Sunday, and he did endorse the prospect of a Palestinian state existing alongside Israel.  While his speech was groundbreaking in one sense- this was Netanyahu’s first proclamation of support for a two-state solution- it was unexciting overall.  Bibi provided a laundry list of prerequisites for the creation of a Palestinian state: “natural growth” in the settlements must be allowed to continue, the Palestinians must recognize Israel as the Jewish state, united Jerusalem must remain the capital of Israel, and any Palestinian state must be completely demilitarized. 

Netanyahu’s assertion of these demands is not new; these conditions for peace are typical of his and others’ rhetoric.  Likewise, the Palestinian response to Netanyahu’s speech was also fairly typical.  They still don’t want to accept Israel as a Jewish state, and consider East Jerusalem as their capital.  So, despite Bibi’s public endorsement of a two-state solution theoretically, nothing has changed practically. Like Daniel, I’m still hopeful about what Netanyahu and Obama can do to reignite the peace process, and I’m glad that Netanyahu has taken this seemingly groundbreaking step forward, even if it is only a baby step towards a real, lasting solution.