Calls for a sweeping peace deal grow louder as critics slam Israel’s strategy and urge a diplomatic solution that includes Palestinian statehood and Iranian nuclear security.
A full-scale reassessment of U.S. policy in the Middle East is gaining urgency after the latest joint military actions by Israel and the United States against Iran triggered fresh instability across the region.
Critics say the strategy is backfiring. Instead of containing threats, it’s further fueling the chaos that’s stretched from the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf.
Israel’s “Remake the Middle East” Doctrine Is Under Fire
At the heart of the unrest is a long-running and increasingly aggressive Israeli strategy aimed at neutralizing regional threats by toppling governments—particularly Iran’s—and blocking the creation of a Palestinian state.
That, according to Columbia University’s Jeffrey Sachs and regional analyst Sybil Fares, is the real fuel behind Israel’s warmaking. The obsession with maintaining military and political supremacy, they argue, has driven Israel to sideline diplomacy, sabotage peace talks, and drag the U.S. into unwinnable conflicts.
The latest airstrikes on Iranian territory, carried out with U.S. backing, weren’t just another military maneuver. They were a loud reminder of Israel’s ongoing push to remake the region—through regime change if necessary.
One sentence says it all: “Israel has driven the region to a 4,000-kilometer swash of violence from Libya to Iran.”
Two Diplomatic Steps, One Chance for Peace
Is peace still possible? Sachs thinks so. But it’ll take guts—and a dramatic shift in U.S. policy.
First, the world must push for the establishment of a Palestinian state, with the backing of the UN Security Council. That would mean international guarantees—real ones—for Israel’s borders and Palestine’s sovereignty.
Second, the U.S. and its allies would need to lift sanctions on Iran, provided Tehran agrees to a verifiable, civilian-only nuclear program. A return to diplomacy. Sounds simple. But decades of mistrust and political sabotage won’t make that easy.
Here’s what the two-step solution could look like if structured into policy:
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Palestinian Statehood: Full UN membership, with borders based on pre-1967 lines, and global security guarantees for both Israel and Palestine.
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Iran Sanctions Relief: Sanctions lifted in exchange for real-time IAEA monitoring of Iran’s nuclear activities.
This isn’t fantasy—it’s a version of diplomacy that was already working before being torpedoed by hardliners.
The Numbers Tell Their Own Story
Let’s rewind history for a moment. It’s not just about ideology—it’s also about numbers.
| Year | % Jewish Population in Palestine | Land Allocated to Jewish State |
|---|---|---|
| 1917 | Less than 10% | 0% |
| 1947 | Around 33% | 56% (UN Partition Plan) |
| 1949 | Post-war occupation | 78% |
| 1967 | Occupation expanded to | 100% (Gaza, West Bank, East Jerusalem) |
In short, Palestinians lost land every time a so-called “peace process” stalled or failed. And that’s why many no longer believe the process was ever fair.
The core of the problem? A refusal—plain and blunt—by Israel’s far-right leadership to allow for a sovereign Palestinian state.
U.S. Policy Has Hit a Fork in the Road
Washington, for all its superpower stature, looks increasingly cornered.
If the U.S. continues backing Israel unconditionally, it risks being seen not as a mediator but as a participant in the region’s destruction. That’s not just bad for American credibility. It’s dangerous—especially as more regional powers push back.
But if the U.S. decides to break from this pattern—if it forces a real peace process—it could still salvage some trust, especially with younger Arab populations tired of endless wars.
One sentence from Sachs’ analysis hits hard: “The far-right Israeli government’s refusal to accept a Palestinian state is the root of the problem.” That’s not just a critique. It’s a challenge to the White House.
The Iran Factor Keeps Complicating Everything
Iran’s support for non-state actors—think Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis—is often pointed to by Israel as justification for its strikes. But here’s the twist: Iran’s influence grew the more it was isolated.
And Israel? It’s done everything it can to undermine U.S.-Iran diplomacy. Remember the 2015 nuclear deal? Netanyahu lobbied hard against it in Washington. Then Trump pulled the plug. That decision—and the return of sanctions—triggered Iran to resume uranium enrichment.
So here we are now, with multiple fronts of violence flaring up and no real off-ramp in sight.
Still, experts argue that diplomacy with Iran is not only possible, it’s necessary. The alternative is continued escalation—with no end in sight.
A Chance for a Different Ending
The clock’s ticking.
Peace isn’t just some distant dream—it’s a real option. But it needs countries like the U.S. to stop enabling Israel’s most extreme impulses and start backing meaningful diplomacy.
People on the ground—from Gaza to Tehran, from Ramallah to Tel Aviv—are exhausted. Of the fear. The bombs. The funerals. The broken promises.
Maybe, just maybe, it’s time for the grown-ups to take over.
