The Two-State Solution: A Path Paved with Diplomatic Failures, Authors Argue

New York – A recent analysis by Hussein Agha and Robert Malley in The New Yorker critically examines the long history of Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts, concluding that repeated diplomatic failures have consistently reignited the "gravitational pull of an existential, pitiless struggle." The piece, titled "What Killed the Two-State Solution?", suggests that the current conflict, particularly following events of October 7, 2023, is not an anomaly but a culmination of historical dynamics.

Agha, a senior associate member of St Antony's College, Oxford, and Malley, who has served in senior Middle East positions in several U.S. Presidential Administrations, assert that for a significant period, both Israeli and Palestinian leaders "invested in diplomacy, gambled on its effectiveness, and trusted in its primacy over force." However, their article underscores a consistent pattern: "Each diplomatic venture ended in failure. Each failure rekindled the gravitational pull of an existential, pitiless struggle."

The authors contend that the notion of a two-state solution, despite persistent international backing, has become increasingly illusory. They note that efforts to achieve two states failed even under more favorable circumstances, when Palestinian unity was stronger and Israeli public opinion more amenable to compromise. Developments on the ground, including settlement expansion and shifting political landscapes, have further complicated its realization.

The New Yorker piece highlights that the current conflict has stripped away the "pretense of a hollow peace process," allowing the struggle to revert to its "original form." Agha and Malley argue that the events of October 7 and Israel’s subsequent response were "reenactments" that exposed myths surrounding the conflict, including the efficacy of bilateral negotiations and the realism of partition.

The analysis suggests that the two-state solution, once a cornerstone of international diplomacy, has become a "dangerous gimmick" used for reasons unrelated to its attainment. The authors conclude that while the idea of partition is considered inevitable by some, its long record of failure has led to "death, desolation, and despair," leaving Israelis and Palestinians without a clear script or compass for the future.