Steven Erlanger, New York Times‘ chief diplomatic correspondent in Europe, joins the host in a discussion about the disproven assumptions of the Middle East war. They explore topics such as the political division in Israel, the Biden administration's efforts to promote restraint, the complex relationship between Joe Biden and Bibi Netanyahu, and the need for new players in resolving the conflict.
The war has shattered the assumption that the Palestinian question could be put on hold, highlighting its urgency for immediate attention and resolution.
The belief that Israel could coexist with Hamas in Gaza by containing its power and responsibilities has been proven flawed, resulting in significant damage and loss of life.
Deep dives
Assumption 1: Park the Palestinian question
One assumption that has been shattered is the belief that the Palestinian question could be parked aside and prioritized below the pursuit of normalization and deals between Israel and other countries in the region, such as the UAE and Morocco. The war has shown that the Palestinian question cannot be ignored or put on hold, as it is a critical issue that demands immediate attention and resolution.
Assumption 2: Managing Hamas in Gaza
Another shattered assumption is the belief that Israel could coexist with Hamas in Gaza by allowing it to build up its power and responsibilities within the region. The assumption that containing Hamas through money and limited responsibility would work has proven to be flawed, resulting in a high death toll and significant damage.
Assumption 3: Calm in the Middle East
The assumption that the Middle East was in a period of relative calm was shattered during this war. While it may have seemed calm on the surface, there were underlying tensions and divisions within Israel, particularly over Prime Minister Netanyahu's government and its policies. This calm was not as stable or as real as it appeared, and the war exposed and heightened these existing conflicts.
Assumption 4: Two-state solution
The assumption that the two-state solution was dead may need to be challenged. The war has raised the possibility that the need for someone to govern Gaza after the conflict may pave the way for a renewed focus on achieving a two-state solution. With international support and involvement, there is the potential for a political settlement that includes the Palestinian Authority taking control over Gaza and a push for the renewed possibility of a separate Palestinian state.
In this podcast, two old friends in and out of journalism talk about the Middle East war, which comes to feel more like a contest in war crimes. Steven Erlanger joins us—he’s the New York Times‘ chief diplomatic correspondent in Europe.
Steven Erlanger.
We start with the terms Steve recently put forth in the Times: the assumptions—or some of the many, many assumptions—that have been upended by this war. The thought, for example, even in Bibi Netanyahu, that Hamas could manage Gaza as an open-air prison, or that Israel is invulnerable to attack.
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