U.S. Perspective on the Arab-Israeli Conflict: Israel Support, Two-State Goal, Mediation Role

Core Pillars

1. Ironclad Support for Israel

• $3.8B/yr military aid (MOU 2019–2028)
• Diplomatic shield at UN (vetoes)
• Strategic partnership: intelligence, tech, defense co-production
• Domestic politics: Bipartisan consensus (evangelical, Jewish, strategic voters)

2. Official Goal: Two-State Solution

• Independent, viable Palestine alongside secure Israel
• 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps
• Jerusalem: shared capital / final status
• Refugees: just, agreed solution
• Security: demilitarized Palestine, Israeli Jordan Valley presence (per past params)

3. Mediator / Facilitator Role

• Camp David (1978, 2000), Oslo (1993 — witness), Wye River, Annapolis, Kerry 2013–14
• Trump: "Peace to Prosperity" (2020) — rejected by Palestinians
• Biden: Revitalize PA, oppose settlement expansion, support normalization (Abraham Accords)

4. Balancing Act

• Arab partners (Jordan, Egypt, Saudi, UAE, Qatar) need Palestinian progress
• Iran containment aligns Israel + Gulf states
• Domestic pressure: progressive Democrats critical of Israel; GOP unwavering support

5. Recent Shifts

• Abraham Accords (2020): UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan normalize — bypassed Palestinian track
• Oct 7, 2023 Hamas attack & Gaza war: US military/intel support for Israel; humanitarian aid push; "day after" planning
• ICJ / ICC cases: US opposes jurisdiction, shields Israel

Not Monolithic

State Dept vs. Pentagon vs. NSC vs. Congress vs. Presidents — nuances differ. But Israel's security as non-negotiable and two-state as formal framework have been constants across administrations (until possibly now).