THE US, ALONG with European and Arab states, is pushing for the implementation of the next phase of the Trump peace plan. However, without a proper peacebuilding plan, international forces will fail to achieve long term stability. This lesson should be evident from past US experience in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The current Trump plan proposes a system reminiscent of the mandates established in the region following the First World War. This is not the kind of international force that Ireland should participate in. It is neo-colonial in nature and effectively gives the US a leading role in the occupation of Gaza.

Palestinians have, for the most part, been excluded from the planning and there is no mention of international law or accountability for violations committed by all parties.

A new political geography is emerging that threatens the whole peace process. Gaza is now divided into two zones: the eastern areas under Israeli control, and the western areas under a weakened but still potent Hamas. A so-called Yellow Line divides these two zones and has become a flashpoint for most recent incidents.

Trump’s peace plan is intended to be executed by a coalition. There are parallels with how the US built coalitions in Afghanistan and Iraq in order to share the significant military and economic burden involved. We are still living with the disastrous consequences of those ill-conceived interventions.

Protection of civilians and securing humanitarian aid are critical roles for any intervention force. According to the US, an........

© TheJournal