The Israel Palestine issue is an issue that reverberates through the walls of the global order, among different entities, but essentially the clash of egos over claim; the claim of land, the claim of property, the claim of individual rights over the piece of land.
The recent event at the General Assembly, the recognition of Palestine as a non member state by a sweeping majority, has an important implication on the issue. It amounts to a massive show of displeasure with Israel, and the overwhelming global sympathies with the state of Palestine. Specifically in Palestine, it has another important political implication. Politically, it gives one up to the embattled President Mahmoud Abbas over the Hamas, now that he was successful is securing a landmark position in the UN. Perhaps a unification of the militant group with the government might be the whiff of change the situation requires. With the Hamas supporting Abbas, and massive Palestinian public approval of the Hamas, this might just be the change that could change the tide.
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Does it change the realities on ground? No, it doesn’t. As Israel has repeatedly pointed out in the assembly, the situation is still precarious, people are still scared for their lives, both the sides still can fire missiles at each other, and there are overwhelming fears that attacks might continue (given the Israeli reaction to the recognition). However, it does change the sentiments on the ground. It changes the way the war was looked at by the world. Suddenly, Palestine is a legitimate sovereign state, fighting for the rights of its citizens, rather than a group of people asking for a land they lost in a war.
That is a huge improvement, a huge leap towards a two state solution, because now the question of claim has been answered. Israel doesnt accept the answer, yet, but the world has spoken. Now it doesnt matter that Jews kicked out Palestinians from their homeland because Bible promised them the holy land, or if the Palestinians had claimed the land wrongfully because it had already been promised to the Jews by the Balfour report, the issue is decided. The United Nations, 193 sovereign countries, by a democratic process have recognized the state of Palestine. History doesnt matter now. Palestine can trade with a majority of these countries, negotiate with them, issue passports, and become a legitimate respectful member of the society. Now there is no other option but to go for the two state solution. A single state cannot exist, because the world has recognized the second state. Now all that should be done is negotiations to determine the nature of the two states; the division of boundaries and power.
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Israeli reaction to the recognition has been sad. With the go-ahead for the construction of 3000 settlements in Gaza strip, specifically isolating West Bank from Jerusalem, do not sit well with the two state solution. Israel has, time and again, reiterated its commitment to peace in the region, and agreed on the practicality of the two state solution. In recent years, however, it seems to be bending towards a one-state solution, emboldened by its highly efficient technology and war weaponry over the Palestine land. Perhaps now Israel should go back on the commitments it made to work on the two state solution, and work towards negotiations with Palestine.
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Because the iron is hot, the brew, right now, is perfect for an amicable solution. All it would take is setting aside the ego-driven counter attacks and stand on the groundwork the Israeli state has been laying since its inception. After all, it does strive for a compromise. That’s all the situation needs right now.