Two-state solution tabled, social media not surprised

Donald Trump, staying true to his character, sparked uproar when he announced the possibility of abandoning the two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict during a press conference with the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump claimed that, instead, he would support the solution that would satisfy both sides, despite his strong pro-Israel leanings.

Some have been outraged and shocked by the latest expression of Trump’s unwavering support for Israel. However, others claimed that in fact, this was simply a reiteration of the status quo.

Mondoweiss, a news outlet that focuses on Israel-Palestine, posted the following political cartoon in response to the press conference, depicting the death of the two-state solution.

While many people reacted with similar disdain towards the US President’s shift in policy, one Facebook user had a different take. She claimed: “The ‘two state solution’ was dead a long time ago. The only difference is that someone in the US government is saying it out loud.”  

On Twitter, another user also expressed a similar sentiment, saying, “any pretense of a two state solution died when, over the past 8 years, Netanyahu and KBHomes turned the West Bank into swiss cheese.” This is ostensibly referring to the ever-expanding Israeli settlements that remain unchecked by the international community.

any pretense of a two state solution died when, over the past 8 years, Netanyahu and KBHomes turned the West Bank into swiss cheese.

— Adam H. Johnson (@adamjohnsonNYC) February 15, 2017

 Another Twitter user provided a completely different response, tweeting: “There’s already a two state solution. Palestine is de jure sovereign state recognized by 114 members of the United nations.”

There's already a two state solution. Palestine is de jure sovereign state recognized by 114 members of the United Nations. #TYTLive

— Gaby Mérida (@ThatSpanishLady) February 15, 2017

On a lighter note, one Twitter user declared, tongue-in-cheek, that Trump abandoning the two-state solution was actually referring to another situation:

Trump says he no longer cares about a two state solution. Of course he was talking about us and Mexico.

— Albert Brooks (@AlbertBrooks) February 15, 2017

The White House has claimed in the past to embrace a two-state solution as its official stance on Israel-Palestine. However, it has not reacted to the expanding of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, considered illegal according to international law, other than by verbal admonitions. For this reason, some people feel that Trump is restating, rather than changing, what has always been the US foreign policy regarding Israel-Palestine.

LM

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