The top United Nations envoy for the Middle East peace process, Tor Wennesland, criticizes the international community's approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying that short-term fixes and humanitarian initiatives have overshadowed the push for a Palestinian state. Wennesland believes that politics and diplomacy have failed to address the main issue driving the conflict: the lack of a permanent settlement between Israelis and Palestinians. He also highlights the rift between Hamas and Fatah and the growing strength of right-wing leaders in Israel as contributing factors. Wennesland warns against sidelining the Palestinian Authority and maintaining the disconnection between Gaza and the West Bank, as it would hinder the creation of a Palestinian state.