#two-state

The U.S. says it is committed to promoting sustainable peace between the Israeli and Palestinian people as well as the adoption of a two-state solution to end the war between the countries. David Greene, chargé d’affaires in Nigeria, said. Mr Greene said the crisis is a source of concern for the U.S. “I think that violence in Gaza right now with Israel is broadly very distressing and undermines…

When people say they want a two state solution to the Palestinian Question what they are in fact calling for is a three state solution - Israel, West Bank and Gaza (and indeed that is effectively what we now have).  The study of how nation-states formed, sustained themselves or failed suggests that logistically, physically and politically, the concept of one nation-state of Palestine separated into two geographically distant parts and with a hostile nation between them is not a recipe for long term stability or viability.  Returning to the 1967 borders, even if Israel respected those borders, would seem at first like some kind of belated justice but where is the justice in re-establishing a nation divided from the onset?

I used to call for a 'One-State Solution' but now I realise that the only way to make that work would be to neutralise Jerusalem as a symbolic capital of Israel or Palestine.  Jerusalem would have to be its own independent nation-city-state as I have depicted in this image.  If Jerusalem is separate then what I am proposing becomes a two-state solution of Palestine, State of Israel and Jerusalem, International City of Faith.

However, for this solution to work, Israel would have to accept a new name, the Palestinian right to return (if not to original homes then at least to the country as equal citizens) and would have to write a new inclusive constitution that guarantees equal political and legal rights for all citizens regardless of faith, colour, origin or ethnicity.  It would mean new laws, new passports and new infrastructure such as changing signs to be at least bi if not tri-lingual (Hebrew, Arabic and maybe English)

"I didn't delve into it."

Spent the past five days flirting with the border of Israel and Palestinian territory, Jerusalem and East Jerusalem, Palestinian villages, hearing from over 10 speakers on both sides of the issues...including overnight home hospitality in an Orthodox settlement for Shabbos, followed by a meeting and conference with someone from the Palestinian Liberation Organization.

Insane.

Topics in the conflict:

1. Settlements

2. Borders

3. Jerusalem

4. What does 'peace' mean and to whom? What does a Jewish State look like? What does a Palestinian state look like?

5. pre-1948 in order to understand post-1948

6. Press coverage of Israel; Israel's PR problem: on the ground and abroad

7. Human rights violations: by the IDF ("Breaking the Silence" organization); and in Palestine by the settlers