TWO STATE SOLUTION: Israel and Palestine?
By Leslie Sacks
That is not the question.
The vast majority of Israel and much of the West Bank agree: The million dollar question rather is – What kind of kind of states?
We know Israel to be the only functioning democracy in the Middle East, a country where over a million Arabs live as full citizens: safely, securely, and viably. Some are judges, doctors, and members of parliament.
However, if the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority (with or without their prior blood enemies, yet current partner, Hamas) become racist and Jihadist dictatorships like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria and others in this area, then what exactly are the advantages to a peace treaty for Israel?
Should they become a democracy, protective of all religions and races – wonderful. I have no doubt most on both sides would then welcome them with open arms.
The elephant in the room remains, however, the Jews living in the settlements throughout the disputed territories, those remaining on the West Bank aftercosmetic adjustments incorporating, into Israel proper, the mainpopulation centres close to the ’67 border.
Yet the Palestinian Authority has made it abundantly clear that no Jews would be allowed in any future state. This does not bode well for peace – it’s hard to find a more racist and discriminatory position that legislates for hate and enmity. Jews and bibles are banned from Saudi Arabia; the persecution of minorities is predominant in the Middle East. Why is it impossible to follow Israel’s example where Jews, Arabs, Christians, Druze and others all live with reasonable comfortability and equality under the law.
Another “Judenrein” state smacks of Nazi Germany, not a peace-loving West Bank come to terms with the adjoining Jewish state of Israel. Most of the Jewish settlers would be happy to live there as part of a new democratic state, provided their safety was reliably guaranteed.
No reason why existing populations are not all respected, unless indeed the ultimate goal of some of the Arab leaders is not only a Jew-free Palestine, but a Jew-free Israel as well.