The "Times of Israel" obtained what it describes as an American document detailing the principles the United States plans to advance when securing a ceasefire in Gaza, including the Palestinian state along the 1967 lines "as anticipated in the Arab Peace Initiative." The Biden administration aims to prevent its Arab partners from proposing a long-term vision for a peaceful settlement between Israel and the Palestinians once the war in Gaza concludes, instead offering a more limited framework that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is likely to reject, according to documents obtained by the "Times of Israel."
The documents acquired by the Israeli newspaper outline the principles that the United States intends to present when securing a ceasefire in Gaza, including the Palestinian state along the 1967 lines "as anticipated in the Arab Peace Initiative." While the United States supports a broader two-state solution that six Arab partners are trying to advance, it has considered their proposal "entirely unrealistic," according to a senior Arab diplomat familiar with the matter.
However, the Arab official noted that recognizing it could not simply dismiss the Arab proposal without offering an alternative, the State Department formulated a series of principles that could serve as a basis for continuing discussions. The official acknowledged that the initiative was not a top priority for the Biden administration, which primarily places greater weight on securing a hostage deal that would end the war between Israel and Hamas sparked by the movement on October 7.
Nonetheless, an American official stated that the State Department document titled "Joint Statement on Principles to Support a Peaceful Future for Israelis and Palestinians" has received approval from the White House, adding that Washington is using it as a foundation to continue talks with its Arab allies, including meetings that Secretary of State Antony Blinken will hold in Egypt, Qatar, and Jordan early next week.
The document closely resembles the post-war principles that Blinken outlined in Tokyo on November 8, although some additions have been made as the United States seeks to meet its Arab allies halfway.
**What Does the Document Include?**
The document obtained by the "Times of Israel" contains ten principles:
1. Calling on the international community to support the reconstruction of Gaza, with opening crossings to the sector to ensure the unobstructed flow of aid.
2. Rejecting the continued rule of terrorist groups in Gaza. "All terrorist organizations and armed groups must disarm and renounce violence. A disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration mechanism will facilitate this process in Gaza."
3. Complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza without any reduction of its territory, military occupation, or forcible displacement of Palestinians, who will be allowed to return to the communities in the sector from which they fled during the war.
4. Reuniting Gaza and the West Bank under the leadership of the Palestinian Authority, which will receive assistance from international partners during the transitional period after the war until it is ready to resume full governance in the sector.
5. Calling for the resumption of final status negotiations between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization based on the premise that "a lasting end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and an end to the occupation can only be achieved through direct negotiations."
6. Supporting the establishment of a "viable, independent, and connected" Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps and a fair and agreed-upon solution for Palestinian refugees, as anticipated in the Arab Peace Initiative. (President Joe Biden has previously expressed support for the 1967 borders, but this seems to be the first time the U.S. also supports the Arab Peace Initiative. However, the proposal envisions a two-state solution that leads Israel to normalize relations with its Arab neighbors, while the American document offers a contrasting approach.)
7. The possibility of normalization between Saudi Arabia, other Arab states, and Israel with tangible progress toward a two-state solution is a promising avenue for achieving peace, security, and regional integration that will benefit all.
8. Rejecting unilateral actions from both sides, "including the expansion of settlements and outposts and glorifying terrorism and violence." Both sides are also urged to support the rule of law and reject incitement by officials and members of the public.
9. Calling for adhering to commitments made during last year's summits in Aqaba and Sharm El-Sheikh, which also rejected moving forward with unilateral actions. The American document also urges the maintenance of the status quo in the Temple Mount, "recognizing the deep connection of people from many religions to Jerusalem and that borders in Jerusalem are subject to final status negotiations."
10. A call for the Palestinian Authority to implement far-reaching reforms "focusing on good governance, transparency, combating corruption, and reforming education and social welfare."
The American document concludes, "We agree to focus our diplomatic efforts on promoting these principles and creating the conditions for lasting peace and security in the region."
In response to a request for comment from the "Times of Israel," a State Department spokesperson stated: "This is part of a broader effort to exchange ideas we have been undertaking with our Arab partners over the past few months." Notably, the American vision does not call for "a fixed, irreversible timeline for establishing a Palestinian state," as Blinken has repeatedly insisted will be necessary for Saudi Arabia to agree to normalize relations with Israel.
However, even the undefined timeline for a Palestinian state has not seemed to interest Netanyahu, arguing it would amount to a "reward" for Hamas after the movement committed the worst massacre against Jews since the attacks of October 7.
