What Are the Alternatives with the Disappearence of the Two-State Solution?

12 setembre 2016 | Focus | Anglès

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The two-state solution as a proposal for ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is on the verge of vanishing. The United States (US) and the European Union (EU) as sponsors, as well as the Israelis and Palestinians, have openly expressed this. The latest statement by the US State Department is a clear example of this rhetoric (US State Dept.). Unfortunately, everyone warns that the two-state solution is vanishing without giving an alternative, which undermines the serious need to look for an alternative. The fear of the two-state solution disappearing resulted from two main elements: first, the continuation of Israeli settlement in the Palestinian State territories, which is supposed to be on the borders of 1967 representing the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem; secondly, the cessation of negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis since the failure of efforts by the US Secretary of State two years ago.

Conflict Returns to Round One

In between the first attitude of “no right to an independent state for the other” and the agreement signed of “two states for two peoples”, there are many proposals for solutions within the reality on the ground, which requires more promotion and study for them be adopted by the stakeholders.   

One Israeli State

This proposal is based on the Israeli government annexing the West Bank and Gaza territories and giving its Palestinians the rights of citizenship. This idea faces a significant rejection from the official and national Palestinian side as it denies the Palestinian identity; it is also rejected by the Israeli leadership and people because they fear that the Palestinians’ demographic growth, which considerably exceeds its counterpart, will threaten the Jewish State.    

One Palestinian State

This proposal is based on the establishment of one state called Palestine, giving the Jews, who came from abroad at the beginning of the last century, the right of citizenship in the state of Palestine. This notion meets a significant rejection from the Israeli side since it denies their country and identity, and makes them citizens in a country that does not match their dreams.

One Space with Two Systems

The Israeli experiment with withdrawal from Gaza back in 2005 – where the Israeli government is still the first source of services and goods and is still controlling people and goods moving in and out of the Gaza Strip – confirms that a complete separation is hard to apply. A new solution has arisen lately that combines different aspects from the proposals above. This proposal is based on establishing two separate political entities in the same space with open borders. In this solution, Palestinians and Israelis have the right to reside and work throughout Historical Palestine. Citizens, regardless of nationality, vote for the municipal council where they live and vote for the Parliament of their nationality. The Palestinians vote for the Parliament and the Israelis vote for the Knesset. Both governments would cooperate logistically, for example with tax collection, workers and movement of people and goods, airports and ports management. The European citizen example can be a good source of consultation in this situation. For example, the French who live in Germany vote in the municipal councils there; meanwhile, they can vote in the parliamentary and presidential elections in France. European citizens have the right to reside and establish their own project wherever they live, regardless of nationality. 

Living Together Is Inescapable

In light of the complications that make separation impossible and too expensive, plus the advantages that would be achieved by keeping the borders open while ensuring freedom of work and movement, the last proposal seems to be the most practical to end the conflict and reap countless benefits from it.  

It is normal to look at this proposal strangely with the continuous conflict and under the severe pressure of feelings of hatred, painful memories, and the doubts created by the conflict, as well as the decline of communication between the two peoples due to the policy of separation and the Apartheid Wall. The nature of this conflict is non-traditional and requires an extraordinary solution. Indeed, this solution needs many years to be applied, with the implementation of a comprehensive system of policies that strengthens the understanding and partnership in confronting the concepts of hatred and hostility. To overcome the dilemma of the country’s name and to give each people what they need to achieve their sense of nationalism, the new country might be called “Holy Land Confederation” State of Palestine and Israel. Undoubtedly, this proposal would face numerous difficulties at the political, economic and social level. Mainly that  is economy-related, is represented by the wide gap in living standards and GDP per capital, which is 15 times higher in Israel than Palestine. Moreover, there is the problem of the wide difference between the performance of the Israeli economy and its modest Palestinian counterpart. The perfect solution is to create a “combinative, developmental” economic project, resembling the West German “Marshall Fund” project, which brings development on the one hand and adhesion with the Israeli economy on the other. Regarding the social problem, it is based on how to heal the wounds of long decades that brought the death of tens of thousands from both sides. It can only be solved by accepting the other and working towards a better future for the coming generations.

To conclude, the two-state solution is no longer viable in its traditional form. We should act now to realize the two state solution , otherwise it is necessary to look at other alternatives seriously, especially the “One Space with Two Systems” alternative.