- On Monday night, Jon Stewart proposed a solution to the conflict in Gaza.
- The solution involves creating a NATO in the Middle East.
- Stewart is not the first to suggest this option, which experts have previously said would fail.
On Monday night’s show, Jon Stewart outlined what he called a solution to the conflict in Gaza.
First, with his trademark dry humor, he proposed an amplified version of the 2014 event in Maine, in which 95 Israeli and Palestinian teenagers traded “rockets for rackets” at a summer camp-style gathering.
Second, Stewart said, “Let us ask God.”
“This is his house and he is the one who started all this. Ask God and he can tell us who is right,” he continued. “Is it Jewish? Is it Muslim? Is it Zoroastrian?”
But Stewart then turned serious, outlining his proposals to end the violence in Gaza.
“From now on, there are no preconditions, no trust earned, no partners for peace. Israel stops its bombings. Hamas releases the hostages. Arab countries that claim Palestine as their top priority come in and form a demilitarized zone between Israel and the state of Free Palestine, Stewart said.
Stewart said the NATO-like organization would include Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Jordan to “ensure the security of both sides.” He named the proposed organization “METO” – the “Middle East Treaty Organization” – and said both the name and his proposed pronunciation (which sounds like “me too”) could be modified further.
“Obviously, I haven’t figured out the exact wording yet, but anything is better than the clusterfuck loop we have right now,” he said.
He also proposed establishing a demilitarized zone (DMZ) between Israel and Palestine.
Stewart is not the first to suggest a NATO-style organization in the Middle East, but the idea has so far failed to gain traction.
The 1955 US-led Baghdad Treaty did not bring lasting unity to the region, and the 2002 Arab League resolution led to another failure of peace in the region. Efforts by leaders such as former President Donald Trump to create an Arab NATO and unite Middle Eastern countries with deeply conflicting security goals and objectives have failed.
In his monologue, the “Daily Show” host accused major political parties such as Israel, Hamas, the United States, the United Nations and Middle Eastern countries of not finding viable solutions to the violence.
“The status quo cycle of provocation and retaliation is based on the idea that one of these groups is going to disappear. But they don’t disappear,” Stewart said.
“If we want a safe and free Israel and a safe and free Palestine, we must recognize this reality. I know that the region has a twisted and controversial history that has led us to this point. But here we are,” Stewart said.
