What's not said in Trump's plan

International Politics — Regardless of Trump's plan, which focuses mainly on Gaza, do you still believe in the "two-state" solution?

Daniel Pipes —No and yes. A Palestinian state is totally unacceptable — even absurd — as long as the Palestinians seek to destroy Israel, as some members of the Palestinian Authority (1) and Hamas clearly aspire to do. But the day the Palestinian leaders and the majority of the population accept Israel, then yes, a Palestine alongside Israel is conceivable. I think that if the Palestinians suffer defeat, they may eventually accept the existence of a Jewish state. My "Israel Victory" project shows the way forward.

P. I. — What does this project consist of?

D. P. — As a historian, I have observed that wars usually end when one side gives up; otherwise, they continue indefinitely. In the case of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Israel must inflict a sense of defeat on the Palestinians. This is not easy given the international support they enjoy, particularly from Islamists and the Left, but it is possible. To achieve this, I advocate more communication and less violence, which is the opposite of what the Israeli government has been doing since October 7.

P. I. — Isn't what Hamas has done to Gaza a counterexample to be held up to those who favor two states?

D. P. — Yes, that's true. Hamas seeks to destroy the Jewish state of Israel, not to coexist with it as part of a two-state solution. The good news is that neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority is deeply rooted in the population. They can be eliminated and replaced by a new, decent Palestinian leadership. But for this scenario to happen, the Israelis must do their part.

P. I. — If such a Palestinian state were to be created, should it be located solely in the West Bank or in both the West Bank and Gaza?

D. P. — Both solutions are conceivable. Despite a century of propaganda about a single, unified Palestine, the West Bank and Gaza in fact have little in common. Culturally, the West Bank is part of the Greater Syria cultural zone, while Gaza is linked to the Egyptian cultural area. Their populations have different accents in Arabic, eat different foods, and have different historical experiences.

P. I. — Should the capital of this state be in East Jerusalem or elsewhere (Ramallah, etc.)?

D. P. — By definition, since Palestine must be founded on the acceptance of Israel with Jerusalem as its capital, the Palestinian capital must be located elsewhere.

P. I. — Should this Palestinian state be permanently demilitarized?

D. P. — No. If the Palestinians were truly determined to live alongside Israel and if they consistently proved their good intentions over a protracted period of time, it would not be necessary for it to be demilitarized. But that is asking a lot, I admit ...

P. I. — Is there any other solution besides two states? For example, a single state but with …