Ilan Baruch, former Ambassador of Israel to South Africa: Over the past two decades, Israel has dictated the terms of negotiations to both the Palestinians and the Americans: it must be done in bilateral channels, and aside from the Israelis and Palestinians, only the United States can take part in the process as a facilitator. This has resulted in distorted power dynamics in the negotiation room: the Palestinians have nothing to offer, while the Netanyahu government isn’t interested in the “two states for two peoples” solution based on 1967 borders. This situation must fundamentally change, and the upcoming elections provide a good opportunity to sharpen the message. Israeli-Palestinian relations do not solely belong to Israel. The world has a right and an obligation to intervene. The Americans must clarify that the lack of a breakthrough will lead to a complete deterioration in Israel’s international standing. Israel’s allies must force it to return to the table so that it can reconfigure its strategic interests. The Palestinians’ failure to garner a strong majority to support its resolution brings us to another reconfiguration. As Israel gears up for the elections, the United States and Europe must make clear the price Israeli will pay without a real peace process, as well as what it stands to gain from making peace..... (article)

Ilan Baruch, former Ambassador of Israel to South Africa:  Over the past two decades, Israel has dictated the terms of negotiations to both the Palestinians and the Americans: it must be done in bilateral channels, and aside from the Israelis and Palestinians, only the United States can take part in the process as a facilitator. This has resulted in distorted power dynamics in the negotiation room: the Palestinians have nothing to offer, while the Netanyahu government isn’t interested in the “two states for two peoples” solution based on 1967 borders.
This situation must fundamentally change, and the upcoming elections provide a good opportunity to sharpen the message. Israeli-Palestinian relations do not solely belong to Israel. The world has a right and an obligation to intervene. The Americans must clarify that the lack of a breakthrough will lead to a complete deterioration in Israel’s international standing. Israel’s allies must force it to return to the table so that it can reconfigure its strategic interests.
The Palestinians’ failure to garner a strong majority to support its resolution brings us to another reconfiguration. As Israel gears up for the elections, the United States and Europe must make clear the price Israeli will pay without a real peace process, as well as what it stands to gain from making peace..... (article)

http://972mag.com/the-worlds-obligation-to-end-the-occupation/100857/