Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

INTERVIEW: Ian Parmeter speaks to SBS about the proposed two-state solution for the Middle East

Ian Parmeter, Research Scholar and Middle East Expert at the ANU Centre of Arab and Islamic Studies in Canberra (SBS).jpg

Ian Parmeter, Research Scholar and Middle East Expert at the ANU Centre of Arab and Islamic Studies in Canberra (SBS) Source: SBS News

Ian Parmeter, Research Scholar and Middle East Expert at the ANU Centre of Arab and Islamic Studies in Canberra, says international calls for a two-state solution are unlikely to lead to results. The two-state solution for the conflict in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian territories goes back to a 1947 UN Resolution, which called for the land between Jordan and the Mediterranean to be divided into separate Israeli and Palestinian states. It had Jewish support back then, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly disagreed with US President Joe Biden, saying he does not support a separate Palestinian state after Israel ends its military campaign in Gaza. Mr Parmeter says around 500,000 Israeli settlers now living in the Occupied West Bank, areas of contention around Jerusalem and Gaza, and domestic pressure on Mr Biden and Mr Netanyahu means the solution now looks impossible. He explained its origins to SBS's Penry Buckley.


Published

By Penry Buckley

Source: SBS News


Share this with family and friends


Ian Parmeter, Research Scholar and Middle East Expert at the ANU Centre of Arab and Islamic Studies in Canberra, says international calls for a two-state solution are unlikely to lead to results. The two-state solution for the conflict in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian territories goes back to a 1947 UN Resolution, which called for the land between Jordan and the Mediterranean to be divided into separate Israeli and Palestinian states. It had Jewish support back then, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly disagreed with US President Joe Biden, saying he does not support a separate Palestinian state after Israel ends its military campaign in Gaza. Mr Parmeter says around 500,000 Israeli settlers now living in the Occupied West Bank, areas of contention around Jerusalem and Gaza, and domestic pressure on Mr Biden and Mr Netanyahu means the solution now looks impossible. He explained its origins to SBS's Penry Buckley.


Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts.


Latest podcast episodes

Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world