Ilan Goldenberg, director of the Middle East Security Program at the New American Security Research Center, said that the annexation step is dangerous, and it will remove any possibility to achieve the two-state solution, indicating that not implementing "annexation" is the best for the future of this solution. .
In an interview with "From America" ​​on Palestine TV, he added: If Israel embarked on "annexation," the most appropriate response from the United States would be recognition of the Palestinian state.
Goldenburg clarified that if Washington recognizes the state of Palestine, it will send a strong message that the two-state solution is possible, and it is something the Palestinians deserve, to have their state, and therefore recognition of Palestine will be considered a message to dispel the negative impact of the idea of ​​annexation.
He continued: "As for the other reason, this recognition will send a message to Israel, confirming that since the signing of the Oslo Agreement in 1993, the philosophy has been based on the need for Palestinians and Israelis to agree to everything, and this has always been the American position, meaning that the message is to Israel, that if it resorted to any unilateral steps. Through annexation, the United States will not support it. "
Goldenberg said: "If Washington does not want to recognize Palestine, the other alternative is to send a signal to the Europeans that the United States will not stand as an obstacle to recognition, because many European countries tend to support support for the establishment of the Palestinian state, but they see the United States as a leader and a traditional mediator. "You want to start a battle with it because there are many differences between it and the Trump administration."
And he considered that merely indicating to European countries that the United States would not oppose them in taking the recognition step, this could lead to a wave of international recognition of Palestine.
Goldenburg warned of the dangers of taking any unilateral steps by Israel or America, noting: “Any unilateral measures by the Trump administration undermine the role of the United States as a mediator, and I believe that Washington still has an important role to play as a mediator. We are an important player, but not from We must be the only player. "
He added, "It is necessary to acknowledge the damage caused by Trump, and relations with the Palestinians must be rebuilt by canceling decisions taken by the Trump administration against the Palestinians, by reopening the American consulate in Jerusalem, reopening the Palestine Liberation Organization office in Washington, and clearly declaring that the status of Jerusalem is It is one of the final status issues and must be subject to negotiations so that the two sides have a capital in it, and there is a need to resume aid to UNRWA and direct American aid to the Palestinian people and government. "
Goldberg expressed his hope that the Democratic candidate, John Biden, if he wins, will adopt another policy that leads towards the two-state solution, saying: “We saw Biden say things that make me think that he intends to be the firefighter who will rush to extinguish the fire resulting from the decisions that sent despair and frustration among the Palestinians, and the step. The first is to build a relationship with the two sides and amend the decisions that have been taken. "
And he continued, "I think that under Biden´s presidency, America will at least try to do its utmost to prevent the deterioration and improvement of the situation, and to stop building settlements."
