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The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Is A One-State Solution Possible?
I recently went to hear a speech by Ali Abunimah, a Palestinian-American and the founder of the website The Electronic Intifada. Abunimah’s argument, which he outlines in a book that was published last year, is that the solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a unified, binational state.
I discuss this idea in a recent post at Foreign Policy Watch.
8 Responses to “The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Is A One-State Solution Possible?”
It’s one state right now, but the Israeli government refuses to provide proper government services or rights to the Palestinians within their territory.
Yes, it’s called the “Demographic Question” or something that effect. The Israelis wont make the Palestinians full citizens because that would be the de facto end of the Jewish state.
The most important thing is the welfare of the Israeli and Palestinian people. Both are best served by the two-state solution that is mandated by international law and consensus, but has been blocked by the United States & Israel.
Contrary to what Mr. Abunimah argues, the “demographic problem” has been the key motivator in pushing Israel towards a two-state solution, not one. As Tom Friedman articulated in From Beirut to Jerusalem, the birthrate differential means Israel can be Jewish, Democratic, and in control of the WB and Gaza–pick two. By and large, the political consensus in and out of Israel is in favor of the former two while jettisoning the last. Israeli policy since Oslo has borne this out–with a definitive trend of withdrawals–sometimes in fits and starts, sometimes reversed, but a very noticable trend of gradually ceding autonomy to the Palestinian Authority and withdrawing claims to perpetual ownership (the Gaza withdrawal was the highest profile move in this regard). This strikes me as the most likely long-term solution.
Incidentally, I’ve read some stuff on EI, and while I know nothing of this author particularly, many of their contributors are quite shrill, and I’ve read several pieces that explicitly advocate the commission of war crimes against Israel. Worth keeping in mind–I’m quite skeptical of the EI bases’ commitment to peaceful co-existence, either in a one or two state situation.
No a one state is not possible.
one man one vote and the Israelis would become minoirities in their own country.
While many Israelis may not like what the Abunimah says, isn’t this the “moderate” Arab stance that many claim does exist. I don’t hear about the destruction of Israel or pushing the non-Arabs into the sea.
Of course a one-state solution is not possible. Considering the oppressive way non-arabs and non-muslims are treated under arab-muslim rule, how can anyone even think about the idea of a binational state? What do you think would be the fate of Israel’s Jews? With non-muslims and non-arabs under seige throughout the muslim and arab world, from the Sudan to the south of Thailand, Iraq, Somalia et al, one can only wonder what world people like Jeb Koogler are living in. Do you not pay attention to the news at all?
Rudi,
Should a “one state” solution be attempted how long do you think Israel would last before being renamed Palestine? How long after that would it be made an Islamic state given who has power among the Palestinian population nowadays?
One state or not, it is still going to be divided by religion, ethnicity, and, above all hatred. IMO the Arabs cannot be broken, nor will they ever give up.
How sad that in the 21st century we still hold on to primitive ideas like being special to God, and a race apart! We ar all just people, smart and dumb, good and bad, and if only the old guardians of antiquated ideas would open up their hearts and minds, and not corrupt the thoses of the young, why we should all intermarry and share the best of each and every group! Amen!
Prophet Jim