17. Renounce Territorial Claims East of the Security Barrier

Belief in the two-state solution is cratering on the Palestinian side for a variety of reasons, but primary among them is that Palestinians increasingly see no reason to trust that there will be enough territory for a viable Palestinian state. As a way of providing Palestinians with a political horizon, maintaining quiet in the West Bank, and incentivizing continued security cooperation between Israel and the PA, Israel should renounce any future territorial claims beyond the security barrier. At the same time, Israel can make clear that it will not withdraw any soldiers or vacate any settlements or military positions from the West Bank until there are successful negotiations for a final-status agreement. This will convey Israel’s seriousness and commitment to a two-state outcome without changing anything on the ground and without giving anything away unilaterally outside the framework of negotiations.