South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham has been a staunch supporter of Israel, so it is disappointing to find him insisting that Israel will have to accept a “two-state solution” in order to normalize ties with Saudi Arabia. More on his claim can be found here: “GOP senator: Israel will have to accept two-state solution to normalize ties with Saudis,” by Jacob Magid, Times of Israel, December 17, 2023:
…The comments amount to a rare recognition by a Republican lawmaker that Palestinian statehood is a condition of expansion of the Abraham Accords, and they come as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is weeks into a public post-October 7 campaign in which he has vowed to block the strategy.
Being interviewed on “Meet the Press,” Lindsey Graham hails the Biden administration’s effort to revive normalization talks between Israel and Saudi Arabia and is asked whether he thinks it’s realistic for the US to still pursue that goal after Hamas’s October 7 terror onslaught.
“Yeah, I do,” he begins….
After October 7, there is no chance that Israelis will accept another, larger Gaza located in Judea and Samaria (a/k/a the West Bank). The Israelis have been shocked beyond measure, and are determined to make sure that there are no more withdrawals of Israelis from Judea and Samaria, which, militarily, they must control if Israel is to be able to defend itself. They also know — even if much of the world never knew or chooses to forget — that they have a claim, based on the Mandate for Palestine, and supported by 3,700 years of Jewish history in the Land of Israel, superior to all other claims, to the land in Judea and Samaria. Even if that new Palestinian state were to promise to be completely demilitarized, how would the Israelis be able to enforce such a promise? Would the IDF station troops both inside, and then all around the perimeter, of this new state of “Palestine”?
85% of Palestinians in Judea and Samaria have said in a recent poll that they “approve” of what Hamas did on October 7. If you were an Israeli, would you want to allow the creation of a state where 85% of the population approved of the barbarity unleashed on Israeli civilians on that day? These Palestinians are declaring their approval, after all, of the greatest single-day loss of life by Jews since the Holocaust. They are not recoiling in horror, but rather, applauding the atrocities committed by Hamas on that day: the beheading of babies, the burning alive of children, the gang-rape, torture, and murder of young girls, the slicing off of the breasts of women, the gouging out of eyes and cutting of genitalia of men, the children murdered in front of their parents and the parents murdered in front of their children. Can Israel allow such a state, with such people in it, to come into existence on land that rightly belongs to Israel?
If a “state of Palestine” were declared, and elections held in the new state, Hamas would win overwhelmingly. Could Israel live with a giant Hamastan next door? The nonsensical and endless parroting of the phrase “two-state solution” proclaims as a given what needs to be proven: no one knows if a second state, a state of Palestine, will in fact be a “solution.” Calling it that does not make it so. And there is much evidence that it would not be a “solution,” but would make Israel’s ability to defend itself much harder, stripped as it would be of military control of the West Bank, including the Jordan Valley, and reduced to having a nine-mile-wide waist from Qalqilya to the sea, which would enable any invader from the east to cut the Jewish state in two in a matter of hours.
Support in Israel for an “independent Palestinian state to coexist peacefully” side by side with Israel has consistently gone down over the past decade. In March and April of 2023, 35% of Israelis supported — lukewarmly — the idea, which represents a decline of 9 percentage points since 2017, and 15 points since 2013. After the Hamas attack on October 9, and the celebration of those attacks among Palestinians in both Gaza and Judea and Samaria, the percentage of Israelis who will contemplate the prospect of a Palestinian state has plummeted further, some say to the 20-25% level. In Washington, the Bidenites seem not to have noticed the change in Israelis’ views about the “two-state solution,” the justified mistrust and fear among the Israeli population, that does not believe any more that the “land for peace” formula could work. The Israelis pulled entirely out of Gaza in 2005, after all, but giving up that land did not produce peace. It produced a state run by Hamas, and the atrocities of October 7. The deep and murderous hatred for the Jews among the Palestinians has been amply demonstrated in the Hamas attacks, and in the subsequent widespread celebrations among Palestinians of the atrocities visited upon innocent Israelis, without any provocation, by Hamas, atrocities which they dare to call “resistance.”
There is a deep disagreement between the Bidenites and Israel on the Israel-Palestinian conflict. The Bidenites think giving the Palestinians a state will calm them down; they will be so busy building a state that they won’t have time to make war on Israel. But the Palestinians in Gaza had such a state, albeit a small one; they could have developed their economy, but instead chose to spend billions of dollars on weapons and a vast network of terror tunnels. The Palestinians in Judea and Samaria are not looking for “peace,” but rather, are hoping for an Israel squeezed back within the indefensible 1949 armistice lines. The Palestinians rejected out of hand two generous peace offerings made by Ehud Barak to Yassir Arafat in 2000 and by Ehud Olmert to Mahmoud Abbas in 2008. Though the PA differs from Hamas in both tactics and timing, it shares the same goal: the complete dismantlement of the Jewish state Its mask of “moderation” slipped off when the PA enthusiastically praised Hamas for the attack on October 7. The Israelis took note.
Senator Graham’s statement that the normalization of ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia cannot take place until Israel agrees to the establishment of a Palestinian state, exaggerates the importance of that normalization. It would be nice, of course, but not nearly as significant as Israel being able to maintain its security, as it must, by continuing to oppose the creation of a Palestinian state. In any case, the Saudis will continue to benefit from Israeli intelligence on Iran and the Houthis in Yemen, and the Saudis will share with Israel their intelligence on Islamic terror groups, including Hamas. For now, that is all the “normalization” that either side needs.
BTeboe says
Ms Lindsey needs to sit down and color. It’s not Israel who is AGAINST a two state solution. Hamas will never agree to live peacefully with the Israelis. A two state solution has been offered many times. Islam does not assimilate with anyone. Period.
Bexarkat says
A “two-state solution” is understood and Israel has, numerous times since 1948, acquiesced to this demand. But this begs the question, will the Arabs agree? If so, on what terms, and on which boundaries?
Abbas has stated that a two-state solution is viable if the Israelis return to the June 4th, 1967 cease-fire lines. Obviously, and with good reason, this is unacceptable to the Israelis.
Senator Graham is a good friend to Israel, but his logic and suggestions are simply unreasonable.
RJ Katz says
The so-called Palestinians will never agree to a two state solution. Neither will Israel at this point.
Westman says
Agree, RJ.
Sen. Graham won’t find either side willing to have a two-state solution that looks remotely like Gaza or the West Bank before 10/7. He has been wrong about Ukraine winning and equally wrong about the US ability to create a two-state solution in Israel.
A two-state solution is now impossible as explained by John Mearsheimer, Prof at the University of Chicago, who is NO friend of Israel and refers to it as an apartheid State:
“..given what’s happened on October 7th…relations, both sides, between the Palestinians and Israelis have been poisoned to the point where a two-state solution is no longer viable”. “I have no solution.”
When Mearshimer, who has strongly advocated for two-state solutions in the past, says it can’t happen in today’s environment, politicians should listen instead of scratching the ears of itching voters.
Golem2 says
+1
Hoi Polloi says
Exactly. In what way is it a solution? And “in order to normalize ties with Saudi Arabia” or in order to keep petrodollars flowing into his offshore account?
William Kemmler says
Two states. Israel gets everything between the River Jordan west to the Mediterranean Sea including the West Bank, Gaza Strip and all of Jerusalem while the Arab terrorists sorry, “Palestinians” can be moved east into Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. If there’s not enough room in those countries then send the excess people to Egypt or Iran. (And no, I don’t care if those countries don’t want them. They get them and that’s the end of it.)
Allowing any Arab terrorists to remain on Israeli territory would guarantee they’d be doing all of this over again in a few years time.
Walter Sieruk says
Lindsey Graham’s support of to dividing the State of Israel into two Is folly. Regardless if ties with Saudi Arabia are “normalized or not
For the so called “two state solution” is not really a valid idea and not a genuine solution. It will definitely not stop this awful Israeli –Muslim land conflict.
Thus a “two state solution” is out of the question. .This is because a “two state solution” not really a “solution” but an Islamic ploy of deception , a smokescreen and hoax and a fraud.
As observed early October7th with those Hamas Islamic terror/murder attacks into Israel from Gaza reveals that even the idea of some people of dividing Jerusalem as well as other parts of the State of Israel between the Jewish people of the Muslim/ Arabs is nothing but folly. To engage the madness of such “talks” is a hoax and a farce .This is because in the so called “negotiations” between the heads of the Jewish nation of Israel and the leaders of the “Palestinians” the Muslim /Arabs the “Palestinian” leaders will speak the truth only when in happens to fit their agenda. The rest of the time the will be speaking half-truths and outright lies. For their goal is to obtain all of the land of the State of Israel. Even in it takes much time and it means getting the land piece by piece. Therefore, those “peace talks” are a hoax.
For the “Palestinian” leaders are employing what is the Islamic doctrine of Taqiyya . Which is the Islamic dogma that lying and deception are good things to do as long as it’s done for the cause of the advancement of Islam. The insidious scheme is part of the stealth jihad .Otherwise known as “Islamic Gradualism.” This sly and something subtle strategy of disingenuous speech, lying deception of achieving the goal of all the land of Israel a war ploy that will be a disaster if the heads of the State of Israel are foolish enough to agree to divide the land of Israel with Muslim /Arabs ,the “Palestinians.” For if such a “peace dialogue” results in a divided land, the outcome will literally be murder. For “Palestinian” leader will allow the jihadists use that land as a base to launch murderous rocket attacks in to Israel. As for example, Hamas of Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Such false hopes for peace which are based on the foundation of lies are nothing new when it comes to Israel. For example, the Bible in Psalm 55:20, 21. Reads “Such men do violence to those at peace with them and break their promised word; their speech is smoother the butter but their thoughts are of war.” [N.E.B.]
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Dear South Carolina
Why do you keep electing specimens like Lindsay Graham, Nicky Haley, Tim Scott, after giving us in the past Fritz Hollings, Strom Thurmund? Why can’t we get elected officials who actually put US interests uber alles?
Previously, Graham was someone like John Bolton who supported our war efforts everywhere, even though he obdurately refused to concede that there was anything wrong w/ islam. Remember, in 2016, when he was a candidate, he was ranting at Trump after the San Bernardino massacre, when Trump said that he’d suspend all muslim immigration to the US until we understood what’s going on. It’s another thing that the latter did just a watered down version of it, but Graham’s prescription of fighting wars abroad so that we don’t have to fight them here is fraudulent, especially given that he is one of those who refuses to see the truth about islam
rooare says
Palestinians want a state only if there is no state of Israel. the Palestinians rejected the offer of a state in 1948, 1967, 2001, 2008, and more since according to a WSJ article, which history verifies.
somehistory says
Two-state is not a solution. Two states to the mozlums means, two states of citizens: the full-on mozlums and those who refuse to convert and get to live as slaves under the feet….until they die…of mozlums.
The rulers of Gaza have had more than one opportunity to have their own little state….and they rejected it because they want one state without having Jews for neighbors. mozlums want all of Israel, not just half of it.
Which is more important: living or dying? Thinking there can be “normalization” with a mozlum nation if only they will give in to other mozlums who want them dead, is the thinking of an idiot. If they say “yes” to giving mozlums in Gaza what they say they want….but are lying….it means they cease to exist.
How can ceasing to exist make for a “normal” situation with saudi arabia?
Fools are running amok with tongues wagging. Would graham give up half of his home estate to someone who hates him and would then murder him?
Robert Kriegsman says
Senators Lindsay Graham and John McCain were called Tweetle Dee & Tweetle Dom.
Lindsay Graham reminds me of Gomer Pyle except that Gomer Pyle is a little smarter.
Troybeam says
Cannot have a 2 state solution when the only state that has existed is Israel.
Troybeam says
Lindsey Graham cannot be trusted and needs to retire from politics.
Pray Hard says
“Two state solution”, huh? LMAO! How stupid is he?
Spiro says
Pretty stupid
He keeps being reelected so there’s a lot of stupid out there
࿗Infidel࿘ says
This is the state that gave us Fritz Hollings, Strom Thurmund, Lindsay Graham, Tim Scott and Nicky Haley. Really stupid!
Jim says
A two state solution would only be possible if all the outside funding for terrorism against Israel from Iran or other countries is stopped permanently. And besides that the Palestinians have to be thoroughly demoralized so that they do not have a sense that they can win the next war against Israel.
James Lincoln says
Look what happened to Gaza after Israel disengaged in 2005.
In 2006, they voted in Hamas which resulted in the destruction of all of the infrastructure built up by the Israelis – and frequent rocket attacks aimed at Israel.
Albert Einstein: The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
James Hoagland says
After October 7, 2023 there will be no two state solution accepted by Israel and the vast majority it its citizens. This will also not be jammed down our throats. Hamas and PA/PLO/Fatah have the same essence. Some particulars have become clear: Hamas is an Iranian proxy that seems to have attacked Israel on October 7 not in coordination as originally planned by Iran-courtesy of Dr. Mordechai Kedar. As originally conceived in 1947-8 from the Jordan to the Mediterranean is a homeland for the Jewish people/nation and all that space will be needed for the millions of Jews that will be forced to flee to Israel for safety. As per the original plan/understanding as to why the Jewish people need a homeland. Naturally this area centered on Judea and Samaria is the Biblical homeland and the covenant as promised will be upheld.
J Jay Dupre says
They have had the opportunity of building their own state since 2005! And prime real estate at that. For at least two reasons they haven’t wanted to follow this up. Firstly they want it all – all of Israel. Secondly they only have one product to sell and that is ‘victimhood’ which has proved to be very profitable and if they had a state, that product would become defunct!
Theresa Balsimo says
They would never be happy even if they were gifted it all. Their religion demands that every Jew be murdered. As long as there are Jewish people, they will seek to destroy them, here, in Europe or anywhere in the world. Observe the vicious attacks all over- it will never stop. The Muslims want a one world caliphate-
Lisa T. says
I saw s video that said in the 1920s, after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, England was put in charge of this area. The Peele Commission offered the Palestinians 80-90 percent of the geography that is now Israel and they said NO.
That tells me that they would only accept a country with no Jews in it Since then they have been offered several other two state solutions. If they wouldn’t accept 80-90 percent, there is no chance of this ever happening.
Golem2 says
The only two state solution is Israel and Jordan. The pallys had many chances for a second state. It’s over.