Israelis Have 2 Options: Make Room For Palestine or Grant Palestinians Israeli Citizenship

KindredSai

Posts: 4,518

www.newstatesman.com/politics/politics/2...

The window of opportunity for a “two-state solution” to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has long been narrowing. Should the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, endorse the conclusions of the Levy report, he could close it for good. The report, produced by a government-appointed panel led by the former Supreme Court justice Edmund Levy, argues that Israel’s presence on the West Bank does not constitute an occupation and, therefore, that the 121 Jewish settlements in the region are legal under international law. The acceptance of the report by the Likud-led government would formalise the de facto annexation of the West Bank and make the creation of a viable Palestinian state impossible. Israel would then be forced either to grant full citizenship to its Arab population or, in the words of its former premier Ehud Olmert, “face a South African-style struggle for equal voting rights”.

Miraj

Posts: 5,023

The option of a two state solution died years ago. Palestine is essentially a single state now. I'm looking forward to the day when external Palestinians are granted the right of return.

Disclaimer: The opinions of this member are not primarily informed by western ethnocentric paradigms, stereotypes rooted in anti-Muslim/Islam hysteria, "Israel can do no wrong" intransigence, or the perceived need to protect the Judeo-Christian world from invading foreign religions and legal concepts. By expressing such views, no inherent attempt is being made to derail or hijack threads, but that may be the result. The result is not the responsibility of this member.

Miraj

Posts: 5,023

Here's another perspective on the subject from an American Rabbi:

The New One-State Solution: Connecting the Dots

Disclaimer: The opinions of this member are not primarily informed by western ethnocentric paradigms, stereotypes rooted in anti-Muslim/Islam hysteria, "Israel can do no wrong" intransigence, or the perceived need to protect the Judeo-Christian world from invading foreign religions and legal concepts. By expressing such views, no inherent attempt is being made to derail or hijack threads, but that may be the result. The result is not the responsibility of this member.

browbeaten

Posts: 2,634

They can all move to Gaza or any other Arab country of their choosing. They've had their chance. I have said for years on this board that everyday the Palestinians do not negotiate, the less land will be available to them for a state. Year after year they refused to create a state, probably hoping for a one-state solution so as to destroy Israel from the inside out. Don't count on Israel as not have seen this coming. Not to mention that I don't think many Palestinians will swear allegiance to the Jewish State of Israel, do you?

rocketjsquirell

Posts: 12,019

There are currently two completely independent Palestinian Arab States

1. Jordan
2. Gaza

How many states do the Palestinian Arabs need?

Miraj is right the two state solution is currently dead since the Palestinians have two states already so that if the status quo were accepted as final this would be a 3 state solution. The actual "solution" on board is the four state solution.

Israel - the Jewish homeland

Jordan - the first Palestinian States

Gaza - the second Palestinian State

and Ramalah Land - the third Palestinian State

Of course Ramalah land could re-join either Jordan or Gaza or both and reduce the number of Palestinian States. That would be their decision

The "One State" solution is no solution at all. It is merely a means by which the Palestinians seek to gain another state- Israel

Frankly, the Palestinians have more than enough states for one group of people right now. I find it extremely generous of the Israelis that they would be willing to help create a third Palestinian State. Why doesn't everyone else?

KindredSai

Posts: 4,518

LOL.

Gaza? In a One State solution Israel will eventually annex Gaza too.

Denying Palestinians Israeli citizenship when you say West bank and Gaza theoretically already belong to Israel amounts to prejudice.

Reverse anti-semitism.

browbeaten

Posts: 2,634

Aug 23, 2012 -- 4:54PM, KindredSai wrote:

LOL.

Gaza? In a One State solution Israel will eventually annex Gaza too.

Denying Palestinians Israeli citizenship when you say West bank and Gaza theoretically already belong to Israel amounts to prejudice.

Reverse anti-semitism.

Since there won't be a One-state solution as you envision, Gaza won't need to be annexed. Those living in the West Bank and Gaza can have Palestinian citizenship. Why on earth would they be given Israeli citizenship. I think you've got your briefs twisted in a knot.

KindredSai

Posts: 4,518

Since there won't be a One-state solution as you envision, Gaza won't need to be annexed. Those living in the West Bank and Gaza can have Palestinian citizenship. Why on earth would they be given Israeli citizenship. I think you've got your briefs twisted in a knot.

There can be no Palestinian citizenship without a viable Palestinian State, Israel for the most part controls Gaza's air and sea, Gaza is still very much under Israeli occupation by proxy.

According to the State of Israel, there is only one State in existence and that is Israel, Palestine according to Israelis does not exist and West Bank and Gaza are very much Israeli territories.

Israel cannot claim territories without giving one set of people citizenship. It's like the US claiming New York and not allowing Jews to become Americans.

rocketjsquirell

Posts: 12,019

KS

What is a viable state?

Gaza is a functioning state. It is larger than any number of functioning national states. It has a greater population than any number of functioning national states. The only international reastrictions on Gaza are the result of actions taken by the government of Gaza. If you have a problem with those restrictions please address your criticism to those responsible - the Hamas government.

Most Arab Palestinians had Jordanian citizenship until Jordan decided to revoke it. If you have a problem with their lack of citizenship, complain to the country which revoked their citizenship - Jordan, which is an extant Palestinian State.

Simply put, the cause behind all your complaints and "concerns" about Arab Palestinians are other Arab Palestinians and other Arabs. Please address your complaints and concerns to the people who cause and caused the problems - the Arab Palestinians themselves and their Arab brothers.

Shusha

Posts: 2,546

Aug 23, 2012 -- 6:40PM, KindredSai wrote:

Since there won't be a One-state solution as you envision, Gaza won't need to be annexed. Those living in the West Bank and Gaza can have Palestinian citizenship. Why on earth would they be given Israeli citizenship. I think you've got your briefs twisted in a knot.

There can be no Palestinian citizenship without a viable Palestinian State, Israel for the most part controls Gaza's air and sea, Gaza is still very much under Israeli occupation by proxy.

According to the State of Israel, there is only one State in existence and that is Israel, Palestine according to Israelis does not exist and West Bank and Gaza are very much Israeli territories.

Israel cannot claim territories without giving one set of people citizenship. It's like the US claiming New York and not allowing Jews to become Americans.

Everything that Rocky already stated and...

It is my understanding Israel controls Gaza's air and sea and borders due o legitimate safety concerns as a direct result of the belligerent actions of a hostile entity. The control of the boundaries of Gaze have nothing to do with occupation -- but defense.

Gaza is living in a "grey area" in terms of nationhood. They are politically and practically independant. They are not legally independant. If Gaza declared sovereignty, there would be no reason not to recognize it, imo.

However, the territory legally belongs to Israel and therefore no changes can be made in Gaza's sovereignty without a treaty.

The New One-State Solution: Connecting the Dots

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