Tom Barrack: Peace is an illusion in Middle East
tom barrack
US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack has declared that peace in the Middle East is likely unattainable, dismissing recent efforts to recognize Palestinian statehood as “useless” and warning that legitimacy battles will continue to fuel instability.
“There Will Probably Never Be Peace”
In a stark assessment ahead of the UN General Assembly, US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said the idea of Middle East peace is “an illusion,” pointing to the region’s long history of conflict and what he described as perpetual fights for legitimacy.
“When we say peace, it’s an illusion,” Barrack told On the Record with Hadley Gamble in an exclusive interview. “There’s never been peace [in the Middle East]. There will probably never be peace because everybody’s fighting for legitimacy.”
His remarks come in the wake of Washington’s sixth veto of a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Ceasefires Have Failed, Barrack Says
Barrack dismissed the effectiveness of international calls for truce, saying, “I think there have been 27 ceasefires. None of them work.”
The ongoing war in Gaza has resulted in an estimated 65,000 Palestinian deaths, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Casualty numbers appear to be eroding support for Israel’s war strategy, even among US President Donald Trump’s voter base.
“It’s a Mess for Everyone”
While acknowledging the humanitarian crisis, Barrack refrained from assigning sole blame.
“Personally, I hate what’s happened in Gaza — on all sides,” he said. “For the Palestinians, for the Israelis, for the Jordanians, for the Lebanese, for the Syrians, for the Turks. You know … it’s a mess.”
Nonetheless, he underscored Washington’s continued backing of Israel. “Israel is a valued ally. We subsidize them by $4 to $5 billion a year. It has a special place in America’s heart,” Barrack noted, while admitting that the region is in a state of “confusion” and “transition.”
Recognition of Palestine Deemed ‘Useless’
Barrack also pushed back against the recent wave of European leaders supporting Palestinian statehood. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are among those who have expressed support for recognition, but Barrack was dismissive.
“It’s nice to see the United Nations, any of them, doing anything. That’s an accomplishment,” he said, before adding, “But I think it’s useless. It doesn’t help.”
No Lasting Rift with Gulf over Israel’s Strike in Doha
Commenting on Israel’s controversial airstrike targeting Hamas officials in Qatar’s capital on September 9 — an act that reportedly shocked Gulf leaders — Barrack revealed the US had not been informed in advance.
“It was not good. Qatar has been a great and valued ally to us since day one,” he said. “The Israelis didn’t tell us what they were planning.”
Despite the surprise and diplomatic strain, Barrack believes US-Gulf relations remain intact and stable in the long term.
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