By Kara Johnson
The repeated failure of the two-state solution shows the need to reevaluate it and consider the one-state solution as a viable path to peace in the region. While substantial compromises and mediation efforts will be required on both the Israeli and Palestinian fronts, establishing a single and democratic state between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea with integrated schools and the eradication of the separation walls should be studied further as a more achievable solution for achieving enduring peace and stability in the region, compared to the two-state solution which has consistently failed to deliver results.
Why Hasn’t The Two-State Solution Worked?
A two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was first proposed in the Partition Plan of 1947 which failed because the Arab higher committee rejected it. In the 1990s, the two-state solution gained renewed momentum with the Oslo Accords, a series of agreements between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). The interim period, outlined by the Oslo Accords, was planned to last five years, during which Israel would gradually withdraw from the West Bank and Gaza Strip, transferring administrative authority to the newly found Palestinian Authority (PA). The Oslo Accords ultimately for various reasons such as Israel’s inability and unwillingness to leave the settlements and the fact that many Palestinians’ refused to recognize the state of Israel, committing acts of violence in opposition to the Accords with the Second Intifada as a primary example.
The One-State Solution
Definition: For my research, the “one-state solution” refers to an approach that transforms the land encompassing present-day Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank into a single state shared by Israelis and Palestinians. In this state, all residents—Jews, Palestinians, and others—have equal rights and share citizenship and the same passport under a unified government.
What must be addressed to achieve a single democratic state:
The Separation Wall: The barrier, currently separating the Israelis and Palestinians with various checkpoints, has become a symbol of division, separation, and inequality between Israeli and Palestinian communities. Removing the separation wall could symbolize a commitment to bridging divides, fostering reconciliation, and promoting a shared national identity within the unified state.
“When people live and learn together daily, they cannot be enemies.”– Hand-in-Hand School
Schools: Integrated schools, following models like the Hand-in-Hand School, will allow citizens from a young age to meet and interact with other students from different religious and ethnic backgrounds, normalizing relations. From the Hand-in-Hand website: “The curricula in Hand-in-Hand’s schools are based on values that reflect both cultures and languages, oriented in multiculturalism and shared and equal citizenship. In our bilingual educational model, Hebrew and Arabic have equal status, as do both cultures and national narratives.”
“It’s time to abandon the traditional two-state solution and embrace the goal of equal rights for Jews and Palestinians.
It’s time to imagine a Jewish home that is not a Jewish state;
Israel-Palestine can be a Jewish home that is also, equally, a Palestinian home.”
– Peter Beinart
Government: The new democratic government would include equal representation and opportunities in all branches of government, ensuring both Israelis and Palestinians are heard. This could involve forming a large coalition that guarantees representation for Palestinians and Israelis in governance, aiming to prevent any single group from holding dominant power. Implementing this would require robust legal frameworks, compromise, and international support to ensure fairness and cooperation.
Many countries have successfully managed to peacefully manage and accommodate the needs of two varying identities, showing that there is hope that a one-state solution could work in Israel/Palestine.
The following two examples demonstrate that a deeply divided society can move towards a unified state based on equality, reconciliation, and respect for diversity.
The Flemings and Walloons in Belgium:
These two groups have consistently butted heads since the 19th century for power within the nation, but have never taken up arms against one another. The reason for the lack of violence “partly lies in their pragmatic penchant for negotiation – marathon, all-night talks are an integral part of the political culture here – and finding the kind of middle ground where, although neither side may be entirely satisfied, they are not disgruntled enough to take up arms” (Diab).
Post-Apartheid South Africa:
While different in many ways, many people compare Apartheid South Africa to the current state of Israel and Palestine under Israeli occupation. In fact, in 2022 Amnesty International stated that the Israeli state “imposes a system of oppression and domination against Palestinians” that “amounts to apartheid as prohibited in international law” (Zhou). In the case of South Africa, apartheid did eventually end after years of violence and activism both domestically and internationally. While there are still economic disparities between white and black communities in South Africa, everyone is now seen equally under South African law.
While the one-state solution offers a path toward peace and coexistence between two nationalities, it faces much criticism which could prevent its implementation and viability.
A one-state solution conflicts with Zionism as it would result in Israel no longer being exclusively a Jewish state. Instead, it would transform into a binational state, where Jews might become a minority. All of the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea can’t be a Jewish state and completely democratic for all of those residing in the area. On the other hand, Palestinians must recognize that their dream of having all of the land in current Israel and Palestine is only truly feasible if they share the region with the current Israeli population under the framework of a one-state solution. The reality is that Israel has been around for over seventy years and its population isn’t going anywhere, so learning to live together in a single state is essential to promote equality and peace. As of right now, the United States is the only state that can bring Israel to the negotiating table, so their support is essential. On the other hand, Qatar must be involved in bringing Palestinian groups like Hamas and the PA to the negotiations. The two groups must communicate and come to a compromise that promotes peace.
Both Jews and Palestinians must decide whether peace, coexistence, and democracy for all Israelis and Palestinians are more crucial for the region’s and the world’s future and safety, or if the continued separation of Israel and Palestine, which leads to violence and events like those of October 7th, is the path they wish to follow.
Despite challenging entrenched beliefs and historical narratives, the one-state solution has the potential to transform a region marred by decades of conflict into a symbol of cooperation and shared prosperity is undeniable.
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