With the two-state solution dead, we must build for a new future

Eventually we will all come to realize that the only sustainable future for us in this land is to recognize that all of the people in the land belong to the land.

By GERSHON BASKIN
Date plantations in the Jordan Valley (photo credit: BWR/SCREENSHOT)
Date plantations in the Jordan Valley
(photo credit: BWR/SCREENSHOT)
Yesterday I had some work meetings in the Hebron area in the Palestinian towns of Sa’ir and Beit Ulla. I haven’t been in the area for the past several months as a result of COVID-19.
I am always amazed as I travel around the West Bank at the rapid pace of infrastructure development done by Israel for the benefit of Israeli settlers. From my vantage point, it always frustrated me understanding that the continual development and expansion of Israeli settlements means increasing difficulty to ever implement a viable two-state solution, which must include the end of Israeli occupation and control over the areas that are supposed to be part of the State of Palestine.
It is this reality, after great resistance on my part, and a lot of time, to face the inevitable conclusion that the two-state solution, as we have known it, is no longer viable – we have missed the train. The anti-partition camp in Israel, including the Israeli settlers, has won. Some of them are even continuing their political struggle by even rejecting the part of the Trump plan, which calls for a mini-Palestinian state in less than 70% of the remaining West Bank after Israel would annex the settlement blocks and the Jordan Valley.
I know that a large number of the pro-settlement camp and their ideological leadership would like to see the fall of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and that the East Bank of the Jordan River should become Palestine. They would declare that the two-state solution is then fully implemented with everything west of the river being Israel and everything east of the river being Palestine. They would then say that any Palestinian living in Israel who wants a national expression of their identity should pack their bags and cross the river.
Those who choose to remain under Israeli rule would need to give up their national aspirations and accept a status of equal civil rights (with great limitation on freedom of movement and freedom to choose their place of residence) but absolutely no national or collective rights. Netanyahu made it clear that any Palestinian living in the areas to be annexed by Israel will not be granted Israeli citizenship. I don’t want to use the “A” word to describe this situation, but nothing else comes to mind.
OK. I get it. The two-state solution of partitioning the Land of Israel between the River and the Sea is dead. The right-wing and Israeli settlers won the political battle. I surrender. But what now? What do they propose should happen with the millions of Palestinians living between the River and the Sea?
Can it really be viable to continue the charade of a Palestinian Authority “governing” the Palestinians in the West Bank? The purpose of establishing a Palestinian Authority back in 1994 as part of the Oslo interim agreements was to prepare the Palestinians for independence and statehood. Israel and the PLO failed to reach agreement on permanent status. The international community has also not followed through on its commitment to the two-state solution. In Europe, only Sweden recognized the State of Palestine and none of Palestine’s closest friends in Europe followed through. Most European diplomats in their private conversations also say that the two-state solution is dead.
IT IS time to develop an alternative. As I drove around the Hebron region yesterday and saw all of the new Israeli infrastructure being built, I was no longer angry or frustrated. Through my new eyesight I saw investment being made by Israel, very much needed, for what will be in the future either a one-state reality, or a federation of Israel and Palestine or a confederation of mini-states in Israel or Palestine, or perhaps some other model. Eventually we will all come to realize that the only sustainable future for us in this land is to recognize that all of the people in the land belong to the land. The land does not belong to us – to either side; we all belong to the land. The only sustainable way of living here will be to recognize that we must all be equal – there can be no sustainable way of living here with one side enjoying preferential and privileged status while the others are second- or third-class citizens or just non-citizen residents. Eventually this will come to be.
Equality for all does not mean the ridiculous idea of merging identities. It also cannot mean the proven unjust and wrong idea of “separate but equal.” We must be able to preserve and express our identities in the Land of Israel and the Land of Palestine – which is the same Land. Equal means equal rights for all – collective and individual. Equal means freedom. Freedom of movement, freedom to live wherever one wants to live. Equal means right of return for Jews and for Palestinians on an equal basis.
In the future, Beit El will be just a neighborhood of north Ramallah. Palestinians who appreciate and drink good wine will be able to visit the Psagot winery right above El Bireh and Jews from all over will be able to take advantage of a good quality and lower-priced fresh fruits and vegetables in the open-air market of Ramallah just next to Ramallah’s central bus station.
It is not such a horrible view of the future. There will be no occupation. There will finally be a constitution protecting everyone’s equal rights. Israel will not be at war with its neighbors because everyone will be sitting around the table designing our shared future. Refugees will not be excluded in the deal. Settlers will not be left out. Even Iran will drop its opposition to the existence of Israel, because in the future, the Israel that we know today will be a completely different political entity.
Despite what I wrote above, it should be clear that until there is agreement between Israel and Palestine, occupation is illegal, immoral, unjust and harmful and Israeli settlements in the occupied territories are illegal by international law.
The writer is a political and social entrepreneur who has dedicated his life to the State of Israel and to peace between Israel and her neighbors. His latest book, In Pursuit of Peace in Israel and Palestine, was published by Vanderbilt University Press and is now available.


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Two State Solution