I'm smart enough not accept the hyperbole about ethnic cleansing of either Arabs or Jews in the ME AND to know that Israel is a nation with lots of Jews, but not really a Jewish nation.

Miraj,

Let me try to explain to you why for Jews the one-state solution is a no-brainer.

First but not foremost, such a solution does not seem to work anywhere. For instance, why not apply the one state solution to the USA and Canada. Before anyone laughs, let me just say that when I attended graduate school in Michigan, many years ago, I watched Canadian TV and was absolutely astounded by the existance of Canadian fears of being absorbed by the USA. But, Miraj, just propose a one-state solution for USA and Canada and watch the responses from the Canadians (the Americans will just wonder why anyone would propose such a thing). It would be enough to make French Canadians sing God Save the Queen.

Then there is the success of the one-state solution for the conflict between India and Pakistan, or to reunite Czechoslovakia, or in fact Keep Greece in the EU. (What happened to Turkey's efforts to join the EU.) We can see in the Middle East the stirling examples of success of 1SS in the UAR and in Syria's approach to Lebanon. In fact Lebanon itself represents some object lessons about problems of a one state solution. By the way back in the late 60's Lebanon was talked about as the model for a 1SS in the Arab-Israeli context, before the ongoing Lebanese civil war was renewed.     

It occurs to me that one of the few places where a one state solution has had any permanency has been the Chinese absorption of Tibet; though the USSR also lasted a fairly long time before it fell apart.

So Miraj, Israeli Jews look around and find numerous examples of one state solutions yielding disastrous results for everyone concerned, especially if they end up as a minority in a one state utopia.

But as I wrote above, the numerous failures of one state solutions to work elsewhere is not the main reason why Jews are suspicious of such ideas. Unfortunately, I have to take my grandson off to his newly reinforced against Kassam bombardment  kindergarten so I will have to leave the rest of this to a later missive. If you want, you can comment on this without waiting for the rest which mostly has to do with Jewish history.

Habesor

PS - Miraj, why don't you advocate a one state solution for the Palestinians and the Jordanians? They have much more in common than do the Israelis and Palestinians. Isn't it strange how most of those who advocate 1SS for Israel and Palestine, are virulently opposed to a 1SS for Palestine and Jordan. I wonder why that is.

Jun 21, 2012 -- 12:20AM, habesor wrote:

Miraj,

Let me try to explain to you why for Jews the one-state solution is a no-brainer.

First but not foremost, such a solution does not seem to work anywhere. For instance, why not apply the one state solution to the USA and Canada. Before anyone laughs, let me just say that when I attended graduate school in Michigan, many years ago, I watched Canadian TV and was absolutely astounded by the existance of Canadian fears of being absorbed by the USA. But, Miraj, just propose a one-state solution for USA and Canada and watch the responses from the Canadians (the Americans will just wonder why anyone would propose such a thing). It would be enough to make French Canadians sing God Save the Queen.

The US and Canada don't need a 1SS.  Israel does.

Then there is the success of the one-state solution for the conflict between India and Pakistan, or to reunite Czechoslovakia, or in fact Keep Greece in the EU. (What happened to Turkey's efforts to join the EU.) We can see in the Middle East the stirling examples of success of 1SS in the UAR and in Syria's approach to Lebanon. In fact Lebanon itself represents some object lessons about problems of a one state solution. By the way back in the late 60's Lebanon was talked about as the model for a 1SS in the Arab-Israeli context, before the ongoing Lebanese civil war was renewed.

What does any of this have to do with Israel?  Nada.

It occurs to me that one of the few places where a one state solution has had any permanency has been the Chinese absorption of Tibet; though the USSR also lasted a fairly long time before it fell apart.

Ah, ok.

So Miraj, Israeli Jews look around and find numerous examples of one state solutions yielding disastrous results for everyone concerned, especially if they end up as a minority in a one state utopia.

Well, it's inevitable, so you can either think ill of the idea or accept it.

But as I wrote above, the numerous failures of one state solutions to work elsewhere is not the main reason why Jews are suspicious of such ideas. Unfortunately, I have to take my grandson off to his newly reinforced against Kassam bombardment  kindergarten so I will have to leave the rest of this to a later missive. If you want, you can comment on this without waiting for the rest which mostly has to do with Jewish history.

Not interested in the history, which I doubt we will agree upon.  I'm looking toward the future. 

Habesor

PS - Miraj, why don't you advocate a one state solution for the Palestinians and the Jordanians? They have much more in common than do the Israelis and Palestinians. Isn't it strange how most of those who advocate 1SS for Israel and Palestine, are virulently opposed to a 1SS for Palestine and Jordan. I wonder why that is.

I'm interested in Israel taking responsibility for its own mess (how many times have I said that here?).  Jordan and all the other nations folks are so fond of using as red herrings should be held accountable for the messes of their own making.  Besides, an Arab is not an Arab is not an Arab, as you seem to think we are. 

Jun 21, 2012 -- 1:55AM, Shusha wrote:

The US and Canada don't need a 1SS.  Israel does.

Why?

Because, for all intents and purposes, the one state already exists.   Formalizing it is a hell of a lot easier than dividing up what Israel has already taken.