A Single-State Solution
Proposal on the Middle East Crisis
The resolution of the crisis in Palestine must be comprehensive & should be sought via a single state solution: a two-nation federation. The foundation of this federation must be based upon the recognition of the sovereign rights of Israelis and Palestinians including the right to secede, as well as autonomy for Bedouins. A constitution needs be written & ratified by all parties, which protects these rights. A federal government should have responsibility for defense & foreign affairs. For such a treaty to hold, the military of the federal government must be integrated up the chain the command. The supreme commander & heads of each service branch should be rotated among the two nations on a regular basis, providing continuous control over the military by both nations. The federal military should have almost-exclusive responsibilities for the airforce & navy. In addition, each nation must have the right to maintain a militia that is capable of defending against outside aggression.
A long-term peace in Palestine requires a comprehensive resolution of outstanding issues. Any peace requires that all refugees be entitled to repatriation. This immense movement of people should be carefully coordinated to equitably portion land to all. Given the majority status of the Palestinians in the country, Israel would have to cede enough additional land, beyond the occupied territories, to provide for an equitable share of arable land and water for all. Providing contiguous borders for each nation would insure that each nation could exist independently were either to seek secession. Both need access to the sea & neighbors. It must provide a framework for constructing a viable environment of justice, peace, and security.
A one-state solution provides the greatest flexibility in relocating millions of people with the most satisfaction. It will also require the willingness of these 2 people laying claim to the same land to be flexible in seeking resolution, including the willingness of Palestinians refugees to move to land that was not ones historical home. The test of that commitment will be Jerusalem. Palestinians and Israelis will have to shift their loyalties from Israel or Palestine to a greater Palestinian/Israeli entity; making their lot with neighbors with whom they want to live in peace friendship for millennia.
Any successful solution requires that Israelis & Palestinians purge their heart of hatred & racism, and, in addition, refuse vengeance: they must join together to renounce violence against civilians. The real basis of the Middle East crisis began as people began to respond to the holocaust. Zionism felt that it had to take extreme measures to provide security for Jews. Jews were & remain a traumatized people as a result of the attempted genocide upon them. Zionism failed that difficult moral test of the crisis that faced them. They responded by commencing to steal enough land to provide for all Jews. In so doing, they became like their oppressors. As a consequence, 75% of Palestinians are refugees.
This solution satisfies the long-term goal of Zionism to return to their ancient homeland and also comports with commitments made by the Ottoman Empire for autonomy. The early goal of Zionism was to establish a nation in peace & friendship with their neighbors. It was a serious mistake to begin to rely upon alliances with Western powers instead of their new neighbors. Doing otherwise would have made a big difference in how the Arab world responded to protecting the victims of the holocaust.
This solution will work much more smoothly if the Arab world agrees to participate constructively in the effort. Both sides must stop attacks upon civilians & actively prevent them. Arab ancestors welcomed Jews into their land. They need to now do the same and honor commitments made by those ancestors. The parties will have to decide what to do with any charges of crimes against humanity that either side wishes to bring. One day, hopefully, these cousins will pray together to their God on the Temple of the Mount and the Dome of the Rock.
The United States should pursue a one-state solution to the Middle East crisis & shift US foreign policy toward a realignment of our treaty obligations. We should immediately extend our military support of Israel to include all of Palestine. We should insist that weapons & aid supplied to Palestine & Israel not be used against any of their citizens. Such a shift in policy would eliminate much of the military capability to use the state to terrorize citizens. It would also be better for America because it frees us from defending Israeli policies with which we disagree. We would, however, still be honoring our commitment to defense of Israel.
It cannot be stressed enough that the solution to this crisis can only be resolved through non-violence. South Africa under the leadership of Nelson Mandela showed the world that virtually any oppressive social order can be overcome by peaceful means. The test of the people of Palestine will be to see if they can pull this off. Can they all break bread and vow to help create a world where they can all flourish.
The resolution of the crisis in Palestine must be comprehensive & should be sought via a single state solution: a two-nation federation. The foundation of this federation must be based upon the recognition of the sovereign rights of Israelis and Palestinians including the right to secede, as well as autonomy for Bedouins. A constitution needs be written & ratified by all parties, which protects these rights. A federal government should have responsibility for defense & foreign affairs. For such a treaty to hold, the military of the federal government must be integrated up the chain the command. The supreme commander & heads of each service branch should be rotated among the two nations on a regular basis, providing continuous control over the military by both nations. The federal military should have almost-exclusive responsibilities for the airforce & navy. In addition, each nation must have the right to maintain a militia that is capable of defending against outside aggression.
A long-term peace in Palestine requires a comprehensive resolution of outstanding issues. Any peace requires that all refugees be entitled to repatriation. This immense movement of people should be carefully coordinated to equitably portion land to all. Given the majority status of the Palestinians in the country, Israel would have to cede enough additional land, beyond the occupied territories, to provide for an equitable share of arable land and water for all. Providing contiguous borders for each nation would insure that each nation could exist independently were either to seek secession. Both need access to the sea & neighbors. It must provide a framework for constructing a viable environment of justice, peace, and security.
A one-state solution provides the greatest flexibility in relocating millions of people with the most satisfaction. It will also require the willingness of these 2 people laying claim to the same land to be flexible in seeking resolution, including the willingness of Palestinians refugees to move to land that was not ones historical home. The test of that commitment will be Jerusalem. Palestinians and Israelis will have to shift their loyalties from Israel or Palestine to a greater Palestinian/Israeli entity; making their lot with neighbors with whom they want to live in peace friendship for millennia.
Any successful solution requires that Israelis & Palestinians purge their heart of hatred & racism, and, in addition, refuse vengeance: they must join together to renounce violence against civilians. The real basis of the Middle East crisis began as people began to respond to the holocaust. Zionism felt that it had to take extreme measures to provide security for Jews. Jews were & remain a traumatized people as a result of the attempted genocide upon them. Zionism failed that difficult moral test of the crisis that faced them. They responded by commencing to steal enough land to provide for all Jews. In so doing, they became like their oppressors. As a consequence, 75% of Palestinians are refugees.
This solution satisfies the long-term goal of Zionism to return to their ancient homeland and also comports with commitments made by the Ottoman Empire for autonomy. The early goal of Zionism was to establish a nation in peace & friendship with their neighbors. It was a serious mistake to begin to rely upon alliances with Western powers instead of their new neighbors. Doing otherwise would have made a big difference in how the Arab world responded to protecting the victims of the holocaust.
This solution will work much more smoothly if the Arab world agrees to participate constructively in the effort. Both sides must stop attacks upon civilians & actively prevent them. Arab ancestors welcomed Jews into their land. They need to now do the same and honor commitments made by those ancestors. The parties will have to decide what to do with any charges of crimes against humanity that either side wishes to bring. One day, hopefully, these cousins will pray together to their God on the Temple of the Mount and the Dome of the Rock.
The United States should pursue a one-state solution to the Middle East crisis & shift US foreign policy toward a realignment of our treaty obligations. We should immediately extend our military support of Israel to include all of Palestine. We should insist that weapons & aid supplied to Palestine & Israel not be used against any of their citizens. Such a shift in policy would eliminate much of the military capability to use the state to terrorize citizens. It would also be better for America because it frees us from defending Israeli policies with which we disagree. We would, however, still be honoring our commitment to defense of Israel.
It cannot be stressed enough that the solution to this crisis can only be resolved through non-violence. South Africa under the leadership of Nelson Mandela showed the world that virtually any oppressive social order can be overcome by peaceful means. The test of the people of Palestine will be to see if they can pull this off. Can they all break bread and vow to help create a world where they can all flourish.
posted by David @ 5:49 PM
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