Introduction: The Road Not Taken
For decades, and as I more recently wrote my upcoming book, Promised and Betrayed: How Britain’s Failures Made Israel the Scapegoat, I held onto the hope that a bold solution could revive the dream of a Palestinian state—a solution rooted in the original British Mandate maps, offering Palestinians land from Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. It felt like a fair and achievable way to rewrite history and fulfill long-broken promises.
But now, as I write this chapter, reflecting on the events of October 7, 2023, the reelection of Donald Trump, and the decades of missed opportunities, I must admit that this vision no longer feels viable. While President Biden would have continued to try to create a Palestinian state, it is pretty much a given President Trump won’t. Add to that the international community is fatigued by terrorism and endless conflict and will not take the risks required for such a two-state solution.
Arab states have moved on, focused on their stability and modernization, while Palestinians remain trapped under leadership that prioritizes resistance over resolution. Iran, exploiting this instability, has turned the Palestinian cause into a weapon for its geopolitical ambitions against the West and other Arab nations.
Tragically, Palestinian leaders have repeatedly chosen the path of self-destruction, squandering opportunities for peace and prosperity. The most likely future is not one of reconciliation or coexistence but of displacement—like so many before them, Palestinians may find themselves resettled elsewhere, their chance for statehood extinguished by their own decisions.
Arafat and the 2000 Camp David Summit: A Turning Point
The most pivotal moment in the collapse of Palestinian statehood was Yasser Arafat’s rejection of the peace offer at the 2000 Camp David Summit. Hosted by U.S. President Bill Clinton, the summit was an extraordinary opportunity to resolve the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak offered:
- A Palestinian state in Gaza and 94% of the West Bank.
- Shared sovereignty over Jerusalem, with Palestinians gaining control over the Temple Mount.
- Compensation for Palestinian refugees, though not the full “right of return.”
It was the most generous offer the Palestinians had ever received. But Arafat walked away. He didn’t negotiate or present a counteroffer—he rejected it outright, stunning both Clinton and Barak. Clinton later described Arafat as having “missed a golden opportunity.”
This rejection was soon followed by Arafat’s tacit approval of the Second Intifada, a wave of violence that shattered the hope created by the Oslo Accords and further eroded Israeli trust. Suicide bombings and attacks on civilians hardened public opinion against future concessions. Arafat’s decision at Camp David not only derailed the peace process but also set a tone for Palestinian leadership: resistance over reconciliation.
Al-Husseini’s Legacy: A History of Rejection
The destructive path of Palestinian leadership did not begin with Arafat or Hamas. It can be traced back to Haj Amin al-Husseini, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, whose radicalism shaped the Palestinian cause in the early 20th century:
Collaboration with the Nazis: During World War II, al-Husseini allied with Adolf Hitler, believing the Nazis would help prevent the establishment of a Jewish state. His actions discredited the Palestinian cause and alienated potential allies.
Rejection of Compromise: Al-Husseini refused to accept any Jewish presence in Palestine. He rejected the 1937 Peel Commission’s partition plan and the 1947 UN Partition Plan, prioritizing confrontation over compromise.
Al-Husseini’s legacy set a precedent for future Palestinian leaders: ideological purity and resistance over pragmatic solutions.
Trump’s Reelection and Its Implications
Donald Trump’s reelection in November 2024 solidified a new geopolitical reality in the Middle East. His pro-Israel policies during his first term, including recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and support for the Abraham Accords, already signaled a shift away from the two-state solution. In his second term, these trends are accelerating:
Support for Annexation: Trump is likely to approve Israel’s annexation of large parts of the West Bank, effectively ending the possibility of a Palestinian state.
Bolstering Israeli Confidence: His unwavering support has emboldened Israeli leadership to consolidate its control over contested territories.
Diminished Palestinian Leverage: With normalization agreements expanding, the Palestinian cause is increasingly isolated on the global stage.
October 7, 2023: The Day the Door Closed
Hamas’s attack on October 7 was unprecedented in its brutality, leaving over 1,400 Israelis dead and hundreds taken hostage. Israel’s response was swift and devastating, targeting Hamas’s infrastructure in Gaza.
Hamas’s Intransigence: Even after the attack, Hamas refused to release hostages or negotiate for Gaza’s survival. Instead, it doubled down on its rhetoric of martyrdom and destruction, prioritizing its war against Israel over the well-being of its people.
This intransigence reflects a cultural tragedy: in Palestinian society, martyrdom is glorified over peace. Peace with Israel would destroy the opportunity for martyrdom—a concept ingrained in their culture. Until this mindset changes, the suffering of Palestinians will remain self-inflicted as much as externally imposed.
The Role of Iran: A Proxy War
Iran has long used Palestinians and Hezbollah as proxies to wage war against Israel and destabilize the region. By funding groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad, Iran ties Palestinian aspirations to its broader geopolitical strategy:
Destabilizing the Region: Iran uses these proxies to undermine Israel and Arab nations aligned with the West.
Isolating Palestinians: Iran’s involvement has alienated many Arab states, pushing them toward normalization with Israel.
Iran’s influence has reduced the Palestinian cause to a geopolitical tool, further diminishing its chances for genuine progress.
The Death of the Two-State Solution
The events since October 7, 2023, coupled with decades of missed opportunities, have destroyed the viability of a two-state solution.
Annexation and Displacement: With Trump’s support, Israel will likely annex much of the West Bank, leaving Palestinians with fragmented enclaves.
A Stateless Future: Like other displaced populations in history, Palestinians may face resettlement in neighboring nations.
Time and again, the Palestinian leadership has chosen resistance over resolution, leaving them without allies, without land, and without a future.
A Sealed Fate
I once believed in the possibility of rewriting history and finding a way for Palestinians and Israelis to coexist. However, the reelection of Donald Trump on October 7th and the events of past years have shattered that hope. The international community, fatigued by violence and rejectionism, has shifted its focus to stability and security.
The British were the first to deny the Palestinian Arabs their promised state, carving up the land and reneging on commitments. Yet the Palestinians compounded this betrayal by denying themselves their state. They rejected opportunities for peace, failed to build a nation, and instead focused on the destruction of Israel.
This is how I see things today: the Palestinians have spent decades chasing destruction instead of creation, and the world will no longer tolerate it. Their future, if there is to be one, will require a complete reimagining—not of borders but of identity and purpose. Without this transformation, the Palestinian cause will remain a cautionary tale—a testament to the devastating cost of missed opportunities and self-inflicted wounds.