Sadly, the Atlantic Council’s finding that a significant number of “experts” in its poll believed a Palestinian state, with peaceful relations with Israel, would exist within the next decade (Report, January 13) looks like a triumph of hope over experience.
The report does not say who these experts are. However, given the council is a US think-tank, based in Washington DC — albeit with global connections — they presumably include a large number of people who see the situation in “rational” terms that take too little account of the highly-charged emotional atmosphere in Palestine (geographically including Israel).
Even before October 7, few in Palestine wanted a two-state solution. The subsequent vicious war means there is nil likelihood of such a solution in the foreseeable future. Normalised relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel are rather more likely and thus offer a measure of hope going forward.
But even then the region may still be plagued by the satellite groups — Hizbollah, the Houthis and maybe still Hamas — supported by Iran, that will continue to spread destruction.
Overall, the situation seems no more soluble than the Falklands/Malvinas dispute between the UK and Argentina and so can only be managed as best as possible rather than resolved.
John Webster
Aldershot, Surrey, UK
