Palestine involves the interests of many countries (besides the Palestinians themselves), both regional, that is, the entire Arab World, and global, notably due to the unreserved support that the United States gives to Israel, which includes preparedness to intervene militarily against any country that attacks Israel. Iran, although not an Arab state, is also deeply interested, not just as a sponsor of Hezbollah in Lebanon, but as just about the only state left in the Middle East that is avowedly hostile to Israel. And it has friends in high places (Russia, China), who have so far remained silent. The Arab states surrounding Israel have over time lost the will to fight for Palestine, and even have come round to recognizing Israel, but their continued acquiescence cannot be taken for granted indefinitely, because their governments do not always reflect the popular will. If every country, save for the US, with an interest in the Palestine war has kept a low profile, that is probably because the consequences can be incalculable, should even one player fire a shot in anger.

Does the Palestinian problem have a global solution? The solution has to be local, and involve the withdrawal of Israel from the occupied territories. But no amount of international pressure, not even from the US, whose pressure in any case is always qualified, will force Israel to do so.