'The long-awaited Trump proposal leaves a universe of things to be desired. In one sense it represents a terminal case of diplomatic malpractice. But in another, it really isn't about diplomacy at all,' writes Aaron David Miller for CNNOpinion
Aaron David Miller is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and author of "The End of Greatness: Why America Can't Have Another Great President." Miller was a State Department Middle East analyst and negotiator in Democratic and Republican administrations. The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author; view more opinion articles on CNN.
Having helped to draft my fair share of Arab-Israeli peace plans many of which were unsuccessful — even half baked — the long-awaited Trump proposal leaves a universe of things to be desired. In one sense it represents a terminal case of diplomatic malpractice. But in another, it really isn't about diplomacy at all or peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
Indeed, the deal of the century reflects the triumph of presidential arrogance, domestic politics and pro-Israeli bias over any commitment to serious peacemaking, let alone an already fraught two-state solution which the administration seems determined to bury.
But there was something else, too. The Trump administration as with so many of its initiatives — withdrawing from the Iran nuclear agreement and the Paris climate accord — wanted to disrupt traditional approaches and put its own mark on the peace process too.
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