U.S. Palestinian Relations: Should the U.S. Support a West Bank/Gaza State?
Abstract
Our question is: Should the U.S. support the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the West Bank and Gaza Strip? In reality, there can be only one of two answers either yes or no although important subsidiary issues exist, notably the possibility of a "transition period" and the nature of any relationship with Jordan. Putting these subsidiary issues aside, what is the answer to our question: yes or no? In the words of the carnival barker, "You pays your money and you takes-your choice." The answer depends on which aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian dilemma strike you as most important: whether you give Israel's security needs first priority, or even absolute priority; or whether you believe that without a West Bank/Gaza state, the Palestinians will forever stir up trouble and instability, leading at some point to another war. As is well-known, no U.S. Administration has ever openly supported the establishment of a West Bank/Gaza state for the Palestinians. In the first part of this paper, I have traced the policy lines on this question during the Nixon, Carter, and Reagan Administrations, and have sketched early elements of the Bush policies which are beginning to emerge. The end point of this survey is that the Bush Administration, like that of President Reagan, has signaled its opposition to such a state; but also of interest in the survey is a look back at the views of President Carter and Israeli Prime Minister Begin, specifically at the tension between Begin's views and Carter's vision of a comprehensive peace. In the second half of this paper, I have addressed U.S. Interests and Policy Objectives, noting that the Palestinian state issue has never been a key U.S. concern on the part of politicians or the public at large.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 31, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA436677
Entities
People
- Kenneth R. Mckune
Organizations
- National Defense University