How About a One State Solution to the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict?

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Saied Toossi
by Saied Toossi
10-Dec-2007
 

Instaed of focusing on a two state solution, which I believe will bring no change, I propose something different, a one state solution.

First, let me go into what I mean by a one state solution. I want the creation of a new nation, neither called Israel nor Palestine, where the Jews, Christians, and Muslims can live together as equals in a democratic society. I know this might seem ridiculous. Some of you may say "Well neither side wants that, both sides want their own country" or "The Jews want their own state, the Muslims out number then and in a democracy the Jews will be the minority" etc...

All may be good point, but there is an answer to each one. Yes, both want their own country, and they will, it'd just not be a segregated one. Also, maybe a Lebanese system, although not fully democratic, could work in this new nation, that way, each group will be garunteed a say in what goes on in the government.

Before I go further, let me give you the reasons why a two state solution will not work:

*The area we are talking about is simply two small to be split up into two nations. Remember, we are talking about millions of people.

*There will be disputes over the few natural resources in the area.

*There will be travel disputes (such as going from Gaza to the West Bank)

*Israel will still militarily control a new Palestinian state, dictating travel, trade, controlling borders, etc...

*There are thousands of Jews in the West Bank which are not willing to leave, Israel will surely want to annex these regions or atleast control these enclaves, as they are highly valuable, both economically and strategically.

*In effect, many of the same problems will result which ended the first two state peace deal a decade ago. A Palestinian state will only be a state by name, but in reality, it will still be Israeli controlled, much like today.

 

A two state solution will not solve anything. Its simply sweeping the dirt under the rug. Its merely giving the impression of peace and a Palestinian state, when in reality, almost nothing will change.

 

The only real solution, the only real peace, will be a one state solution, with people learning to live alongside each other. Historically, the land has always been either Jewish, Christian, or Muslim, how about just for once we think of it has not just one faiths land, but everyones land?

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Don't You Know Yet ?!

by Shamshir (not verified) on

Don't you know that Israel's Zionist party has a long-term plan? A plan to take over the area from Iran's western border all the way to North Africa?
They've already drawn the proposed Israel map!
It's square shaped!
They say "Our book Torat shows that God has told us this land belongs to us."
Great excuse isn't it? :)
So forget the solutions, they don't want any. No matter what you give them they want more. There is no peace-talks with people like that. Peace with them means giving them peace of mind while they steal more and more.
The Jewish people of Israel are their victims too because they can have peace but Zionists won't let it happen. They'll steal more lands and cause wars.
And Zionist-supported US. media supports them and American leaders support AIPAC because they think if they don't they won't get jewish votes... and this sad story will continue.


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Israelis are living on OCCUPIED lands of Palestinains.

by Asghar Esraeli (not verified) on

Since Israelis have by force occupied the land that does not belong to them, your ONE STATE solution is great, given that the land is returned to its rightful owners, the Palestinains. Israelis can rent and live in those areas owned by their original owners -- palestinains. As far as inhabitants rights' are concerned, they should be treated equal as a religious minority (that they are). Palestinian refugees who have been driven out of their own properties should return to their rightful properties, and the war criminals of Israel should be put on trial. This will in fact work.


Mehdi

Something Like That

by Mehdi on

I think for as long as there is such a contrast in the standards of living which also affects the cultural differences between Israel and ouside of Israel, it is impossible to have peace there, or a one-country. I think establishing Israel in that area is like building a very expensive house in a ghetto area of the town. You are just asking for trouble. And if one really insists on living there, the only way he will have nay peace is to make sure everybody else in that area has more or less the same kind of house (as far as value and niceness, etc). Otherwise it won't happen.

We see a similar issue in the US versus Mexico. The over-immigration has caused the US to start building a wall between the two countries. And you think this is going to solve the issue? Of course not. Didn't humanity just recently celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall? So now we bring the pieces from Europe and build another wall like it between Mexico and the US? The real solution would be to help Mexico improve her conditions so that the need for such rapid immigration disappears. It would be cheaper and easier to do.


Unlike what most people think, I don't believe the issue is only a religious difference issue. I believe the issue is the huge contrast between the standards of living and a little bit it is something we can call culture or class. Religion itself is affected by standards of living. For example Moslems of Dubai do not act at all like Moslems of Palestine - mainly because people in Dubai have more money and amenities. So even the religion changes with the change of standards of living.


Just like Alborz said, Israel is not a Jewish state. It's really more like all western countries and I have never been there but from what I hear there is quite a religious freedom there. And since we know westerners in general believe in the separation of "church" and state, it is really quite meaningless to call Israel a Jewish state. It is more for decoration and like Alborz put it very well for social cohesion, etc. Some people at some point got pissed about Jewish people being persecuted so much and decided to do something and their solution just wasn't very workable. Instead of creating a society they thought they needed to create a country. Now the new generation in Israel don't really care about Jewish identity. They are the type who separate religion and state anyway. I read somewhere that despite heavy immigration of the Jewish people into Israel, the population of the Jewsih people is actually on the decline within Israel. Or it maybe that the percentage of them is decllining due to faster reproduction rate of the non-Jewish people. In any event it was a neat idea but a Jewish state can never work if you also want to be democratic and modern, etc, if you think about it without prejudice, just like an "Islamic" state won't really work in that way. It's just meaningless in today's world.


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One state solution or not,

by an iranian in usa who cares about justice (not verified) on

One state solution or not, the Israeli apartheid system cannot go on forever, even if Israel encourages every single Jewish person to go there. It did not work in South Africa, it did not work in the South in USA and it will not work in Israel. Israelis have to realize that they cannot force a nation out of their homes and expect the world to stay quiet. Israelis are offering every Iranian Jew about $25,000 and housing and food and etc to migrate to Israel and at the same time commit every criminal act to force Palestinians out of their homeland. Just imagine the outcry of international media if Iranians were doing such a thing!!!
And then the Zionist propagandists are sending comments to every single newspaper, radio, and websites and saying that why Palestinians don’t go to Arab countries. It is like the Germans come and take over Iranian Azerbaijan and tell people of Tabriz and Rezayeh and the rest to go to Turkey or Republic of Azerbaijan!!
Palestinians are Palestinians; they are not Iraqis or Egyptians or Jordanians or Syrians. Only RACIST ZIONISTS think that just because you speak the same language you are of a different race and in their case A CHOSEN RACE!!!!

Long live Palestine,


Kaveh Nouraee

It Won't Work

by Kaveh Nouraee on

You propose a nice idea, but a very impractical one. The Arabs simply will not rest until they eradicate the Jews from the area. That has been their goal since before the British or French mandates.

 

 

As there has never been a nation called Palestine, there is no real reason to establish one now. The West Bank should go back under Jordanian control, since at least the Jordanians have some degree of control over their people and their land. The Gaza Strip should be enclosed with a fortified wall, like the ghettos in Europe during the late 1930s before 6 million people were slaughtered just because of their religious beliefs. (You Jew-haters can start responding with your vitriol anytime.)

 

 

 

Some of you also fail to realize that if Arabs truly cared about Palestinians, they would have opened their borders to them and brought them in a long time ago. They don't do that because they truly don't give a damn about these people they call their "Arab Brothers". If it weren't for the fact that the adversary are Jews, then the rest of the Arab world wouldn't even give the Palestinian issue the time of day. The Arabs couldn't care less about Palestine, it's just that they hate the Jews even more. All of this nonsense about holy lands and God's will is just a load of BS. Using the same flawed rationale as these morons, I could go rob banks of millions of dollars in currency and say that I did it because it is God's will that I be a millionaire.


alborz

Oil and Water don't mix

by alborz on

Today, Israel is inhabited by immigrants from many parts of the world, with the vast majority being from Europe. Its Jewish-ness is primarily a filter for immigrations purposes and cohesion against its enemies that also share the same faith, Islam.  Otherwise, Israel is a western state with all of the trappings of western culture, which stand in stark contrast with that of a Middle Eastern Moslem state.  Moslem sensibilities would result in the imposition of limitations on this more liberal culture.  Lebanon is a failed state because both Moslems and Christians are in a position to perceptibly exert their influence; at times in a disastrous and violent manner.  If anything one could reach the conclusion that Lebanon should be split up.

  

The Palestinian (Arab) and Israeli conflict will persist until the Israel finds itself in a position where it would be in its interest to change its policies and the Arab world is willing to provide humanitarian and financial support to elevate the condition of the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. This support has not been forthcoming because of the divisions amongst the Sunnis and Shiites which represent the two opposing factions amongst the Palestinians.

 

  So the solution, in my opinion, cannot be formulated until the causes are correctly and objectively assessed on each side.  The divided Palestinian side will be condemned to a future not very much unlike its past, until Moslem states can transcend their deep rooted antagonism.  Sunnis and Shiites, just like oil and water, don't mix as they cannot comprehensively support the Palestinians. They may shake hands and meet in the international arena to further their own agendas, but it is all too clear to the West that they fundamentally stand apart and divided.  A divided foe is indeed weak and feeble.  While the Arab and Iranian Moslems earned billions of petro-dollars, the Europeans where the largest donors of aid to the Palestinians until the recent elections which brought the Hamas faction into power.  Is it reasonable to expect Israel to compromise on anything when the divided Moslem world has all but abandoned the divided Palestinians?


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not a bad idea. But don't

by asil (not verified) on

not a bad idea.
But don't give them Lebanese constitution, where they have to have christian president when only 40% are christian.
it was dictated on them by French.
i doubt if fanatics will accept it.
just imagine combining pakistan and india.


Saied Toossi

Racism...

by Saied Toossi on

Usually I do not waste my time debating with racists, but in this case, I would like to make a few things clear.

Most Arabs are Arabs by language. You cant just say "Well, have the Palestinians live in Egypt, or Saudi Arabia" because they are not Egyptians or Saudis, they are their own people.

Let me put it this way, for the same reason that you cannot ask the English to move out of England and live in the US, Canada, or Australia, you cannot ask the Palestinians to live in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, or Egypt.

I suggest you look at the bigger picture instead of letting yourself be blinded by racism.


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How about you think of Iran

by MRX (not verified) on

forget about palestine, Isreal and all that! there are 22 arab countries, with at leat two or three hundred million population,washed in billions petro dollar money and so much land that they can create ten palestenian state for all I care!
The one state solution is dumb! Arabs multiply like jack rabbits. if you had one state, then in two or three decades they will overwhelm and over run all jews over there. so you are asking isreali to commit suecide then?
focus on Iran.!