Stephen Walt, a prominent professor of international relations at Harvard University, recently expressed deep skepticism regarding the United States’ plan to resolve the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Further amplification of those concerns came from Walt, in a recent interview with Steve Clemons on Bloomberg TV’s “The Bottom Line.” He claimed that it is fundamentally structured and controlled by individuals who are deeply committed to the pro-Israel cause.
Walt thinks this bias poisons the well against any fair-minded attempt at peacemaking. He asserts that the current strategy has almost no prospect of establishing anything resembling a long-term stability for the region. As per Walt, the U.S. intervention seems ‘half-hearted’, and doesn’t possess the requisite muscle to create the conditions for real dialogue and resolution.
The political scientist is thus warning that Israel’s reputation is rapidly worsening across the region. He argues that this change opens up new and significant dangers for Israel. He argues that the country risks creating “a very troubling future.” Walt reminds us that the current turmoil is more than just an anomaly. Instead, it falls within a destructive pattern that continues to play out in the region. To illustrate this futility, he quipped, “We’ve seen this movie before” — the lamenting of countless unsuccessful peace mediations that have taken place over several decades.
Walt’s critique is a serious one and cuts deep to the core of U.S. foreign policy aims in the Middle East. He insists that a real commitment is necessary in order to address the root problems and interests of everyone involved. Without it, any peace plan will be doomed to fail. The professor’s observations underscore the pitfalls of international relations pink-washing and the importance of understanding regional dynamics with depth and nuance.
