Former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton has sparked widespread controversy after proposing the abandonment of the two-state solution to the Palestinian issue in favor of what he calls the “three-state solution.” This proposal suggests returning the Gaza Strip to Egyptian sovereignty and dividing the West Bank between Israel and Jordan.
اضافة اعلانIn an article published in the British newspaper The Telegraph, Bolton argued that Washington’s current approach to Gaza lacks a coherent national security strategy. He asserted that it is time to completely abandon the two-state solution and seek more realistic alternatives that ensure Israel’s security while providing a better economic future for the Palestinians.
Controversy Over Trump’s Statements
Bolton referred to comments made by former U.S. President Donald Trump during his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on February 4, which sparked debate over Gaza’s future. Trump had mentioned the possibility of using U.S. military force in the Gaza Strip.
Although the White House quickly distanced itself from this idea, Bolton insisted that Trump was serious about U.S. control over Gaza, though he did not necessarily mean direct military intervention.
He noted that the debate surrounding these remarks obscured two separate issues:
- The "unrealistic" notion of U.S. control over Gaza and transforming it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
- The more pressing issue of rejecting the resettlement of Gaza’s population within the Strip, at least in the near future.
Criticism of U.S. Control Over Gaza
Bolton criticized the idea of U.S. control over Gaza, arguing that it lacks a clear political and strategic vision. He compared it to Trump’s past suggestion to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un about turning North Korea’s beaches into tourist resorts.
“If that idea seemed absurd in North Korea, it becomes even more dangerous in Gaza due to the deteriorating security situation there,” Bolton wrote.
He also warned that the ongoing ceasefire and prisoner exchanges between Israel and Hamas allow the militant group to regain control over Gaza, raising doubts about the extent of Hamas’s actual weakening due to Israeli military operations.
Bolton described Gaza as a “historical accident” resulting from the first Arab-Israeli war in 1948, arguing that it lacks the economic foundations necessary to function as an independent entity.
Call to Abolish UNRWA
In his article, Bolton called for the abolition of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), arguing that it has perpetuated the problem rather than solving it. He proposed transferring responsibility for Palestinian refugees to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which would treat them according to international refugee standards.
Bolton concluded by stating that, despite the controversy surrounding Trump’s remarks, they could open the door for serious discussions on Gaza’s future and the need for a permanent solution.
“It is essential to think beyond traditional frameworks because maintaining the status quo is not in anyone’s interest,” he wrote.
However, both Egypt and Jordan have repeatedly rejected any proposals that would shift responsibility for Gaza or the West Bank onto them.
Furthermore, Bolton’s proposal contradicts the official stance of the United States, which—at least in its public discourse—continues to support the two-state solution as the primary path to resolving the conflict.
