By Jeffrey D. Sachs and Sybil Fares
The
attack by Israel and the US on Iran had two significant effects. First,
it once again exposed the root cause of turmoil in the region: Israel’s
project to “reshape the Middle East” through regime-change, aimed at
maintaining its dominance and blocking a Palestinian state. Second, it
highlighted the futility and recklessness of this strategy. The only
path to peace is a comprehensive agreement that addresses Palestine’s
statehood, Israel’s security, Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, and the
economic recovery of the region.
Israel
wants to topple the Iranian government because Iran has supported
proxies and non-state actors aligned with the Palestinians. Israel has
also consistently undermined US-Iran diplomacy regarding Iran’s nuclear
program.
Instead
of endless wars, Israel’s security can be ensured by two key diplomatic
steps –ending militancy by establishing a Palestinian state with UN
Security Council guarantees, and lifting sanctions on Iran in exchange
for a peaceful and verifiable nuclear program.
The far-right Israeli government’s refusal to accept a Palestinian state is the root of the problem.
When the British empire promised a Jewish homeland in Mandatory Palestine in 1917, the Palestinian Arabs constituted 90% of the population and
Jews less than 10% of the population. In 1947, with US intense
lobbying, the UN General Assembly voted to grant 56% of Palestine to a new Zionist state,
while the Jews were only 33% of the population. Palestinians rejected
this as a violation of their right to self-determination. After the 1948
war, Israel expanded to 78% of Palestine, and in 1967, occupied the remaining 22%—Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights.
Instead
of returning occupied lands in exchange for peace, Israeli right-wing
politicians insisted on permanent control of 100% of the land, with the Likud founding charter declaring in 1977 that there would be only Israeli sovereignty “between the Sea and Jordan”.
Netanyahu
represents this policy of domination – and has served as Prime Minister
for a total of 17 years since 1996. When he came to power, he and his
US neocon allies authored the “Clean Break”
strategy to block the creation of a Palestinian state. Instead of
pursuing land for peace, Israel aimed to reshape the Middle East by
overthrowing governments that supported the Palestinian cause. The US
would be the implementing partner of this strategy.
This
is exactly what happened after 9/11, as the US led or sponsored wars
against Iraq (invasion in 2003), Lebanon (U.S. funding and arming
Israeli aggressions), Libya (NATO bombing in 2011), Syria (CIA operation
during 2010’s), Sudan (supporting rebels to break Sudan apart in 2011),
and Somalia (backing Ethiopia’s invasion in 2006).
Contrary to the glib promises by Netanyahu to
the US Congress in 2002 — that regime change in Iraq would bring a new
day to the Middle East — the 2003 Iraq War augured the events that were
to come across the region. Iraq descended into turmoil, and since then,
each new war has brought death, destruction, and economic disarray.
This
month, Israel attacked Iran even as negotiations between Iran and the
US were underway to ensure the peaceful use of Iran’s nuclear program –
repeating the same WMD propaganda that Netanyahu used to justify the
Iraq War.
Israel has been claiming for more than 30 years that Iran is on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons. However, on June 18, 2025, the IAEA Director General stated
that there is “no proof of a systematic effort” by Iran to develop
nuclear weapons. More to the point, Iran and the US were actively
engaged in negotiations according to which the IAEA would monitor and
verify the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program.
The
attack on Iran proves yet again the futility and nihilism of
Netanyahu’s approach. The Israeli and US attacks accomplished nothing
positive. According to most analysts, Iran’s enriched uranium remains
intact, but is now in a secret location rather than under IAEA
monitoring. In the meantime, with Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza –
neither peace nor security have been achieved.
Israel
has driven the region to a 4,000-km swash of violence from Libya to
Iran through its reckless, lawless, and warmongering actions, all
ultimately aimed at preventing a State of Palestine by “remaking” the
Middle East.
The
solution is clear: it is time for the United States to recognize that
its own strategic interests require a decisive break from partnering in
Israel’s destructive strategy.
Prioritizing
genuine peace in the Middle East is not only a moral imperative, but a
fundamental U.S. interest—one that can only be achieved through a
comprehensive peace deal. The key pillar of this deal is for the US to lift its veto on
a Palestinian State on the borders of 4 June 1967, and to do so at the
start, not in some vague distant future that never actually arrives.
For more than 20 years, Arab nations have backed a practical peace plan. So too has the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC), with its 57 member countries, and the League of Arab States (LAS), with its 22 members. So too have almost all the nations in the UN General Assembly. So too has the International Court of Justice in its 2024 ruling that Israel’s occupation is illegal. Only Israel, with support from the US veto, has stood in the way.
Here
is a seven-point peace plan in which all parties would benefit. Israel
would gain peace and security. Palestine would achieve statehood. Iran
would win an end to economic sanctions. The US would win an end to
costly and illegal wars fought on Israel’s behalf, as well as the risks
of nuclear proliferation if the current violence continues. The Middle
East would win economic development, security and justice.
– First,an
immediate ceasefire would apply across the entire region – and the
ceasefire would include an immediate release of all hostages and
prisoners.
– Second,
the UN Security Council would vote upfront to welcome Palestine as the
194th UN Member State on the 4 June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as
its capital. Israel and Palestine could subsequently agree on mutually
desired border adjustments.
– Third,Israel
would withdraw from all territories occupied since 1967. UN-mandated
international forces would ensure a peaceful, orderly transition, a
transfer of Palestinian territories to Palestinian authorities, and
mutual security for both Israel and Palestine.
– Fourth,
the territorial integrity and sovereignty would be guaranteed for
Lebanon, Syria, and all states in the region. All non-state armed groups
would be demilitarized, and foreign troops would be withdrawn.
– Fifth,
the UN Security Council would adopt an updated nuclear agreement with
Iran, including binding verification, and with all economic sanctions on
Iran lifted alongside Iran’s verified compliance with the peaceful uses
of its nuclear program.
– Sixth,
Israel and all Arab and Islamic states would establish full diplomatic
relations following the admission of the State of Palestine as UN member
state.
– Seventh,
the Middle East nations would establish an international fund for
rebuilding the war-torn parts of Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine, with
contributions coming from within the region and from external sources.
https://www.other-news.info/the-time-has-arrived-for-a-comprehensive-middle-east-peace/