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CHICAGO: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netaynahu is “no friend of peace” and is using his right-wing coalition government and the conflict with the Palestinians to further delay his own corruption trial and evade justice, a leading Israeli analyst said this week.

Yossi Mekelberg, associate fellow at the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House in London, said on the Ray Hanania Radio Show that Netanyahu deliberately prolonged the war in Gaza to pursue his own interests rather than the interests of the people on both sides.
To save the hope of a two-state solution, the international community must bring about an important change, he said. This means expanding the peace process to strengthen the role of other nations alongside the US and helping to change the discourse around the conflict. At the same time, Washington must think about what is the best way to achieve its own goals.

“What about the American interest? Where is the American interest?” asked Mekelberg, who is also a columnist for Arab News. “(US Secretary of State Antony) Blinken, who is now visiting the region for the ninth time, is practically begging for a ceasefire.
“It's bad enough that Netanyahu keeps dragging out the peace talks and imposing new conditions on them, while (the conflict) is also linked to the possibility or the threat and the danger of a regional war. This is where it intersects with American interests: the impact of a regional war on American interests. So the discussion should also be about what is good for America.

“I think the United States is crucial (to the process). What I sometimes don't like when it comes to this discussion with Europeans is that when I discuss (the conflict) with representatives of the European Union, they say that only the Americans (have the power to end the conflict). I think the EU can play a role. I think the (Arab) region can play a very important role.

“To simply say there is only one peace broker … that is not right. Especially if one side does not really trust that peace broker. That is why I think we need a coalition of peace brokers.”

Mekelberg said a key factor continuing to fuel the conflict is Netanyahu's partnership with far-right parties within his coalition government.

Netanyahu was charged with breach of trust, bribery and fraud on November 21, 2019. A trial began in Israel on May 24, 2020, but has not yet been completed, Mekelberg said, as Netanyahu's right-wing government seeks to undermine the judiciary and legal processes in Israel.

“They say every country gets the leader it deserves. I think in the case of the Israeli government, the punishment is much greater than the sin,” he added.

“So I think Israel deserves better leadership. You know, the only conclusion I can come to is that Netanyahu is not interested in a peace-based two-state solution – which, despite all the flaws and concerns one might have about a two-state solution, is still the best alternative, the best option.”

Mekelberg believes that Netanyahu's actions toward Hamas before its attacks on Israel on October 7 last year, including financial support for the group, were aimed in part at “maintaining the division of the Palestinians, between Fatah and Hamas, the West Bank and Gaza” in order to “destroy any hope of a two-state solution.” He added: “So if that is the solution that can bring peace, then I don't think Netanyahu supports it in any way.”
“Ultimately, neither this government nor Netanyahu are friends of peace… it is rather a government that seeks the annexation of the West Bank, and some even talk of occupying or re-occupying Gaza and building settlements there.” Mekelberg said Netanyahu and his government's opposition to a two-state solution serves their own political interests, fuels the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians and prevents peace.

He reiterated that a two-state solution remains the best option, but that other peace scenarios should also be considered that recognize the rights of both peoples, including a confederation of some kind.

“I think we've seen so many final nails in the coffin of the two-state solution… it's full of final nails,” he said.

“Now the facts on the ground – (including) the expansion of settlements, the settler population of more than 700,000 and the encirclement of Jerusalem by settlements – have made (peace) more difficult.”

However, according to Mekelberg, peace can take many forms.

“One of the options is to consider a confederation,” he added. “You have two states, but because of the size of the territory, there is no need for hard borders. You need to think about an almost EU-like model, where people can move freely from one side to the other. Consider Jerusalem as the capital of both states, but without the need for more walls. In fact, the walls would have to be torn down.”
You can hear the full interview with Yossi Mekelberg on Thursday, August 29 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time and Monday, September 2 on Michigan radio station WNZK 690 AM or on ArabNews.com/RayRadioShow.