THE TWO STATE SOLUTION: THE WAY FORWARD OR UTOPIA?

This article below has been co-authored by Manuel Hassassian and Raphael Cohen-Almagor. It has been edited somewhat by AALEP. His Excellency Ambassador Manuel Hassassian is the PLO ambassador to the UK. He was a consultant to UNESCO, the Palestinian Negotiating Team on Refugee Final Settlement, and Minister of State Affairs – Head of the Jerusalem File. Professor Hassassian received his PhD in Comparative Politics from University of Cincinnati, and was President of the Rectors’ Conference of the Palestinian Ministry of Higher Education, and President of the Palestinian-European-American Cooperation in Education (PEACE) programme. Raphael Cohen-Almagor received his DPhil in Political Theory from Oxford University. He is Chair and Professor of Politics, Founder and Director of the Middle East Study Group, University of Hull, UK, human rights and peace activist. In 2003-2007 he was the Founding Director of the Center for Democratic Studies, University of Haifa, Israel.

Wheras:

The Palestinians aspire to have an independent state in the 1967 borders, with Arab Jerusalem as its capital and a substantial return of refugees to Israel. The Israelis wish to retain the Jewish character of Israel, being the only Jewish state in the world. Both sides wish to enjoy life of tranquility and in security, free of violence and terror. Both sides need to make painful concessions and reach a compromise.

Now therefore, both parties agree to the following:

• A State of Palestine will be declared and respected. Israel shall recognise the State of Palestine. Palestine shall recognise the Jewish State of Israel. Israel and Palestine shall immediately establish full diplomatic relationships with each other, appointing ambassadors in the capital of the respective partner. Each State is free to choose its own capital; West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine. The border will be on the 1967 line. Having an undisputed, internationally-recognised border is the best security arrangement for both sides. Israel will agree to withdraw in principle to the Green Line, evacuating settlements and resettling settlers in other parts of the country. The major settlement blocs – Maaleh Adumim, Givat Zeev, Gush Etzion, Modiin Illit and Ariel – which account for approximately 70 per cent of the Jewish population in the West Bank and for less than four per cent of its territory, may be annexed to Israel upon reaching an agreement with the PA as part of the land swap equal in size and quality. Border adjustment must be kept to the necessary minimum and must be reciprocal. A corridor would connect the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to allow safe and free passage. As long as peace is kept, the road will be permanently open and solely Palestinian. No Israeli checkpoints will be there. Palestinians will not be able to enter Israel from this corridor, nor shall Israelis enter Palestine from the corridor. Palestine will ensure that this safe passage won’t be abused for violent purposes. Such abuse would undermine peace and trust between the two parties. The Separation Wall  creates a political reality. It should run roughly along the 1967 mutually agreed borders. Both Israel and Palestine will take all necessary measures to ascertain that their citizens could live free of fear for their lives. Security is equally important for both Israelis and Palestinians as this is the key for peace. Palestine and Israel shall base their security relations on cooperation, mutual trust, good neighbourly relations, and the protection of their joint interests. There will be zero tolerance for terrorism and violence. Both sides will work together to curb violence. Both sides will see that their citizens on both sides of the border reside in peace and tranquility. Zealots and terrorists, Palestinian and Jews, will receive tough penalties for any violation of peace and tranquility.
• What is Palestinian will come under the territory of the new capital Al-Quds. Al-Quds would include East Jerusalem and the adjacent Palestinian land and villages. Abu Dis, Al-Izarieh, Al-Sawahreh, and Kufr Aqab will be included in the Palestinian capital. The Israeli capital would include West Jerusalem and the adjacent Israeli settlements.
• The Old City should be under a special regime accepted by both sides. Special arrangements and recognition will be made to honour the importance of the Western Wall and the Jewish Quarter for Jews, and similarly special arrangements and recognition will be made to honour the importance of the Islamic and Christian holy places. There will be Israeli-Palestinian cooperation in providing municipality services to both populations.
• Israel and Palestine should seek a fair solution that would not infringe the rights of any of the sides and will assure that the Palestinian people will have the required water supply for sustenance and growth.
• Israel and Palestine will enjoy fishing rights in their respective territorial waters.
• Israel and Palestine will institute a shared curriculum on good neighbourhood, understanding cultures and religions, respect for others and not harming others. This education programme will commence at the kindergarten and continue at primary and high schools. In every age group vital concepts for understanding the other will be studied. This programme is critical for establishing peaceful relationships and trust between the two parties.
• Starting in primary schools, Arabic will be a mandatory language for pupils to study in Jewish schools. Similarly, Hebrew will be a mandatory language for pupils to study in Palestinian schools. Language is the most important bridge between different cultures and nations. Israelis will master Arabic to the same extent that they presently master English. Palestinians will master Hebrew as their second language.
• Both sides need to clean up the atmosphere, fight bigotry, racism, incitement and hate on both sides of the fence/wall. This includes a close study of the education curricula in both the PA and Israel. Both sides need to overhaul their school books, excluding incitement, racism, bigotry and hate against one another. The curricula should reflect a language of peace, tolerance and liberty. Both sides should utilise the media to promote peaceful messages of reconciliation and mutual recognition.
• As an act of good will, part of the trust-building process, Israel will release a number of agreed upon prisoners. With time, as trust will grow between the two sides, all security prisoners will return home.
• The question of refugees and their right of return is a major concern for both Palestine and Israel. For Palestinians, this issue is about their history, justice and fairness. For Israelis, this is a debated issue, where many Israelis are unwilling to claim responsibility for the Palestinian tragedy and most Israelis object to the right of return as this would mean the end of the Jewish State. What needs to be done is to identify the population, establish the numbers, and after mapping the refugee population conduct a survey among them that would include the following options: Return to Israel; Return to the West Bank; Return to the Gaza Strip; Emigrate to third countries that would commit to absorbing a certain quota (appeal will be made to countries that receive immigration on a regular basis to participate in this settlement effort); Remain where they are.
• The 1948 Palestinian refugees will be able to settle in Palestine. The rest of the world will be able to set immigration quotas for absorbing Palestinians who apply for settlement in their designated choice of country. Unification of families should be allowed in Israel on a limited quota scale annually. But massive refugee return to Israel will not be allowed. In addition, an international tribunal of reputable historians and international lawyers, including equal representatives of Israel and Palestine, will determine the level of monetary compensation. If needed, Israel and Palestine may establish an international relief fund to which humanitarian countries that wish to see the end of the conflict can contribute. Israel, Europe, the Muslim World, North America and other countries of good will would be able to secure the required funding. The United Nations and the World Bank may also be approached to offer assistance.
• Israel and Palestine will consider opportunities for economic cooperation for the benefit of both societies, aiming to capitalise on the potential of both, to optimise resources and coordinate efforts. Israel would help Palestine develop an independent economy and open doors for Palestine in the Western world and elsewhere. Palestine will pave the way for Israel’s integration into the Middle East as an equal member in the community of neighbouring countries. Palestine will help Israel develop economic, industrial, tourist and other relationships with the Arab and Muslim countries.
• Israel and Palestine will be free to conduct international commerce as they see fit. In order to develop trust between the two parties, some level of transparency about logs of commerce will be agreed and memorandums of understanding will be signed by the two parties.
• Israel and Palestine will coordinate efforts in promoting tourism to the region, this via collaboration with the neighbouring countries in order to facilitate cultural and religious experiences that are unique to this region.
• Mutual channels of communication will be opened on television, radio and the internet. These media channels will transmit their broadcast in two or three languages: Arabic, Hebrew and possibly also English. Communication and language are important for the development of good neighbourly relations.

Following the signing of a comprehensive agreement covering all issues and concerns, an official statement will be issued declaring the end of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.