Is Israeli-Palestinian Peace Still Possible? PART TWO: Why Two States and How to Preserve the Prospect for Peace.

Breaking with previous US policy and the broad international consensus supporting a “two-state resolution” of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, on February 15 in his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Trump said, “I’m looking at two states and one state. I'm happy with the one they like the best."

For many people, especially people who are not familiar with the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and have not followed the series of UN resolutions and US peace initiatives, President Trump’s statement may seem to have a certain simple logical appeal. For others who are familiar with the history, their frustration with failed peace initiatives and the reality of continuing Israeli settlement expansion taking territory presumed to be part of a future Palestinian state may lead them to conclude that a two-state solution is no longer possible. So, why not one state?

The problem is that neither the Israeli nor the Palestinian version of a “one-state solution” would work, and almost inevitably would lead to years more violent conflict and very likely trigger new and unpredictable Israeli-Palestinian wars. READ MORE.

For many years of the conflict, from 1948 to 1988, most Palestinians and Israeli Jews wished and wanted the other side to disappear. Eventually, after wars in 1948, 1967, 1973 and 1982, majorities on both sides slowly came to recognize that it wasn’t going to happen, that the other side was here to stay. I recall a conversation in 1984 with Rabbi David Hartman of the Shalom Hartman Institute. David urged me whenever I would meet with Palestinians to help them understand that “when Jews come to this land, we are coming home.”  I replied, “I understand David, and what Palestinians need you to understand is that when you came here, they were home.”

Two peoples claim the right of national self-determination and both have historical bone-deep connections to the same small land. That’s the reality that underlies the need for a two-state solution to the conflict. The 1967 war and UN Security Council Resolution 242, with its twin, interdependent principles of Israeli withdrawal from territories occupied as a result of the war, including the West Bank and Gaza, and recognition and security for all states in the region including Israel, provided the physical territorial and international legal basis for the two-state resolution of the conflict.

Given projected population demographics in the area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean, the Palestinian version of one-state with equal rights for all won’t work because it would be unacceptable to Jews since it would mean the end of Israel as a majority Jewish state, which was a foundational purpose in the creation of modern Israel. Given tenacious Palestinian nationalist aspirations, the Israeli version of one state, keeping military control of the West Bank and Gaza, while only allowing Jews to vote would be undemocratic, unacceptable to Palestinians and, learning a lesson from South Africa, ultimately unsustainable.

Encouragingly, a recent reliable joint Israeli-Palestinian poll https://en.idi.org.il/events/4206 reveals that, despite deep distrust and disagreement on specific issues, the goal of two-states is still supported by slim majorities on both sides. Furthermore, the poll suggests that if incentives were added for each side and if the peace plan were to include all Arab countries, as the Arab Peace Initiative offers, it would likely be supported by larger majorities.

What’s needed now to preserve the prospect for peace is renewed, determined US and international commitment to the two-state solution. In coordination with the Quartet (US, EU, Russia and the UN Secretary General), the US should seek and support a UN Security Council Resolution outlining a Framework, along the lines of Ambassador Daniel Kurtzer’s Model for Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations.

Drawing on Kurtzer’s model and other parameters developed over the years in official negotiations and informal talks, here is a brief outline of realistic, balanced ideas for resolving all major issues, including the most emotional issues of refugees and Jerusalem

Borders: Based on UN Security Council Resolution 242, Israel will withdraw from territories (West Bank and Gaza) occupied in the 1967 war, with negotiated minor, equal land swaps that would allow Israel to keep territory close to the 1967 line where 75-80% of Jewish settlements are located. Safe passage routes between Gaza and the West Bank, similar to ones agreed to in 1994, would be negotiated.

Security: The Government of Israel will be responsible for security in areas under its sovereignty, and the Government of Palestine will be responsible for security in areas under its sovereignty. The Palestinian State will be demilitarized and the international community will guarantee its security and independence.

Refugees: Palestinian refugees will have a “right of return” to the state of Palestine. Israel might agree to negotiate a limited number of refugees (50,000 has sometimes been referenced) to return to Israel based on family reunification. Palestinians not returning to Palestine will receive compensation and help from an international fund to settle in states where they now reside or to resettle in other countries willing to receive them.

Jerusalem: Jerusalem will be recognized as having historic political, national, cultural and religious importance to Israelis and Palestinians, and to Jews, Christians and Muslims worldwide. The city will become the capital of the two states, with the capital of Israel in West Jerusalem and the capital of Palestine in East Jerusalem. The city will be open and undivided. The parties will develop an agreed plan for control of entry to and exit from the city and for its security. Predominantly Jewish neighborhoods will be under Israeli sovereignty; predominantly Arab neighborhoods will be under Palestinian sovereignty. The parties will agree on a special regimen for the Old City, including the role of religious authorities in relation to the Western Wall and Temple Mount.

End of Conflict: Upon full implementation of the agreement, all claims on both sides will be terminated and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be ended.

Israeli-Palestinian peace is still possible.  While the parties may not be prepared immediately to negotiate details of a final agreement, a UN Security Council Resolution outlining the principles and Framework for a two-state solution will help preserve the prospect for peace.