UAE minister sees 'strategic shift' in Palestine-Israel conflict

Abu Dhabi - Gargash said that future conversations should revolve around giving equal rights to Palestinians in Israel.

Hope for peace between Palestine and Israel lies in a "strategic shift" from the current two-state approach, the UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, has said.
"Many, many years ago, where there was an Arab decision to not to have contact with Israel, I think that was a very, very wrong mistake, looking back. Because clearly, you have to dissect and divide between having a political issue and keeping your lines of communication (open)," Gargash said.
He was speaking at the two-day Ideas Abu Dhabi forum that kicked off on Wednesday (March 27) at the New York University.
Speaking about a solution for the Palestinian conflict - one of the longest running in the history of the Middle East - Gargash said future conversations should revolve around giving equal rights to Palestinians in Israel. "I think this conversation will shift ... because the two-state solution will no longer be feasible," said Gargash.
"If we continue on the current trajectory ... I think the conversation in 15 years' time will be really about equal rights in one state ... I know that this conversation is there right now, but it is on the margins."
The minister said though more Arab countries will engage with Israel in the coming years, the strategic shift needed to progress on the peace front will come when future discussions will be on the nature of the Israeli state. "What are the rights of Palestinians that live in the Israeli state? Should they be given equal rights? Is it sustainable that they are not equal citizens?"
Golan Heights move slammed
The minister slammed the recent US decision to recognise Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. "Clearly, decisions like (the ones) on Golan heights don't really help," said Gargash.
On Monday, US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation, formally recognising Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which till 1967 belonged to Syria, drawing collective condemnation from the Arab countries. The UAE condemned the decision, saying the move disrupts all efforts to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East.
Gargash said the UAE is keen to resolve the Palestinian conflict. "From the perspective of the UAE, we do need to resolve this. We do need to resolve it because this issue has the tendency of jumping out of the background from being quiet and suddenly becoming headline news."
anjana@khaleejtimes.com

• Abu Dhabi