The change the Middle East needs begins with recognition of a Palestinian state | Nadav Tamir

Nadav Tamir argues that the American vision for reshaping the Middle East, which includes containing Iran, reaching agreements with Syria and Lebanon, and expanding the Abraham Accords, must include recognition of a demilitarized Palestinian state from the outset. According to him, a regional conference in Riyadh, under American auspices, could connect all these moves into a historic settlement, while providing security guarantees for Israel, a state for the Palestinians, and regional stability.

Nadav Tamir argues in an opinion piece that the Trump administration seeks to reshape the Middle East by containing Iran, reaching agreements with Syria and Lebanon, and expanding the Abraham Accords, but this move will not be complete without recognition of a demilitarized Palestinian state. Tamir proposes a vision of a regional settlement involving 23 states: Israel, all Arab League states, and a Palestinian state. He notes that Trump's 20-point plan and Nikolay Mladenov's 15-point plan provide a technical basis for the first phase, but without a political horizon, the conflict could return to a cycle of lulls and rearmament. Tamir calls for American recognition of a Palestinian state at the very start of the process, and after the elections in Israel, convening a regional conference in Riyadh. He compares this to the 1991 Madrid Conference, which changed the rules of the game, and notes that the current regional infrastructure is stronger than ever thanks to the Abraham Accords and security cooperation against Iran. According to him, each side will receive from the conference something it cannot achieve alone: Israel will receive a regional security package, the Palestinians a state, and Arab states stability and prosperity. Tamir concludes that history does not allow one to choose when an opportunity arises, but only to recognize it.