The plight of the Palestinians
CGTN
Over the week before last, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has tried to respond to the U.S. proposal to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. He has both criticized the plan while also putting forward his own path to peace. However, in both cases Abbas has faced obstacles, whether from American opposition to the proposed UN draft resolution or from the relatively static international state system. Consequently, he may be advised to seek an alternative approach, one in which Palestinian agency may have more impact.
In January, U.S. President Donald Trump launched the current diplomatic flurry when he presented his vision for resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Although he claimed to support a Palestinian state, the plan was clear that Palestinian sovereignty would be severely circumscribed. Not only would the Palestinian state would be demilitarized, Israel would control of the Jordan Valley as well as all security-related matters.
