Rahm Emanuel Urges Israel to Pursue 23-State Deal, Warns Alliance Support Is in Low 20s
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Jul 12
Rahm Emanuel Urges Israel to Pursue 23-State Deal, Warns Alliance Support Is in Low 20s
3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Jul 12
Summary
Emanuel said his recent Israel speech proposed a “23-state solution” — pairing Palestinian sovereignty and Israeli security with Arab League recognition from 21 Arab states.
He argued Israel has become a “territorial pariah” and said relying mainly on military force is unsustainable, with U.S. public support for Israel now only in the low 20s.
Emanuel tied the plan to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, saying regional integration could restore Israel’s strategic position and make it “Iran’s worst day.”
He also urged direct diplomacy with Syria’s new leadership to cut Hezbollah off from Iranian weapons, saying Israel has let political strategy and diplomacy atrophy.
Asked about presidential speculation, Emanuel said he has not decided whether to run and pointed instead to U.S. education, citing Mississippi’s rise from 49th to 9th in reading scores.
With US support for Israel at a historic low, is a future without American aid becoming a reality?
Could a grand economic bargain succeed where decades of Mideast peace talks have consistently failed?
Is Israel's reliance on a 'military hammer' creating more threats than it eliminates?
Breaking the Stalemate: Rahm Emanuel’s "23-State Solution" and the Future of U.S.-Israel Relations
Overview
In July 2026, Rahm Emanuel delivered a major speech at Tel Aviv University, warning that the U.S.-Israel alliance is at a crossroads and cannot continue as before. He sharply criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu’s handling of Gaza, arguing that the operation inadvertently helped Hamas achieve its goal of destroying hopes for Israeli-Palestinian coexistence. Emanuel highlighted Hamas’s brutal actions and blamed the Israeli government for failing to deter future violence or offer a viable alternative. He concluded that without a new approach, Israel faces ongoing occupation and isolation, putting its crucial alliance with the United States at risk.