Veteran Peace Negotiators Expose the "Two-State Solution" as a Decades-Long Deception

The Two-State Solution: A "Big, Expedient Lie" In a scathing critique of the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian peace process, veteran US peace negotiators Robert Malley and Hussein Agha have labeled the two-state solution a "big, expedient lie." Their new book, Tomorrow Is Yesterday, chronicles the failure of this long-held goal, despite their own efforts to make it a reality. According to Malley, who advised President Bill Clinton at the 2000 Camp David summit, the two-state solution was always an unattainable dream. "We were trying to create a state that didn't exist," he said in an interview. "The Palestinians had no institutions, no economy, and no army. It was a fantasy." Agha, a confidant of the late Palestine Liberation Organization chairman Yasser Arafat, concurred with Malley's assessment. "We were trying to impose a solution on the parties rather than letting them find their own way," he said. The two-state solution, which has been the cornerstone of international efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since the 1990s, aimed to establish an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. However, despite numerous negotiations and agreements, including the Oslo Accords in 1993 and the Camp David summit in 2000, a lasting peace has yet to be achieved. Malley and Agha's book provides a detailed account of the failures of these efforts, highlighting the unrealistic expectations and lack of preparation that plagued the process. "We were trying to create a state from scratch without giving the Palestinians any real control over their own destiny," Malley said. The authors also argue that the international community, including the United States, bears significant responsibility for the failure of the two-state solution. "The US has been complicit in perpetuating this lie, providing diplomatic cover and financial support to Israel while pretending to push for a two-state solution," Agha said. Their critique is not without controversy, however. Some critics argue that Malley and Agha's book is too harsh on the Israeli government and too soft on Palestinian leaders. "The authors' failure to acknowledge the legitimate security concerns of the Israeli people undermines their credibility as peace negotiators," said a spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy in Washington. Despite these criticisms, Tomorrow Is Yesterday has been praised by many experts in the field for its nuanced and insightful analysis of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "Malley and Agha's book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of this conflict," said Daniel Kurtzer, a former US ambassador to Israel. The release of Tomorrow Is Yesterday comes at a time when the two-state solution appears increasingly unattainable. The Israeli government has been expanding settlements in the West Bank, while the Palestinian Authority has struggled to maintain control over its territory. As the international community grapples with the implications of Malley and Agha's book, one thing is clear: the two-state solution is no longer a viable option for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "We need to rethink our approach and find new ways to address this crisis," said Malley. "The status quo is unsustainable, and it's time for a new way forward." *Reporting by Motherjones.*