Unpacking Israeli History Michael Koplow: The Broken History and Fragile Future of Palestinian Statehood
18 snips
Sep 29, 2025 In this insightful discussion, Michael Koplow, Chief Policy Officer at the Israel Policy Forum and a noted expert on Israeli-Palestinian diplomacy, delves into the complexities of Palestinian statehood. He examines the many failed historical attempts at statehood and shares skepticism about the impact of recent UN actions. Michael also discusses the importance of international recognition, the Arab Peace Initiative, and the challenges of divided governance in Gaza and the West Bank. His analysis reveals both the historical context and the current realities that shape the future of peace efforts.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
October 7th As An Inflection Point
- October 7th is an inflection point that will reshape the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for years to come.
- Multiple plausible pathways exist, including renewed push for a Palestinian state or permanent Israeli annexation.
Why Western Recognitions Are Different Now
- Western recognition moves matter because they are broader and coordinated across influential states.
- Saudi involvement makes the push far more consequential for Israel's regional diplomacy.
Long Arc Of Statehood Attempts
- Serious proposals for Palestinian statehood date back to the Peel Commission (1937) and UN partition (1947).
- The topic resurfaced meaningfully in the 1980s–90s after Jordan and Egypt no longer controlled the territories.