Israel, whether it chooses to acknowledge it or not (or we do), is heading toward a one-state solution, one that includes the Palestinians as part of their citizenship. They may wish the Palestinian problem would go away. But their Arab neighbors have no reason, nor inclination, to accept millions of Palestinians into their midst. The reasons for this are well-known and I won't rehash them here.
But, knowing that, and believing, as I do, in turning a problem into a solution, I propose the following:
Keep the settlements, but -- after thorough screening and background checks -- allow one third of the new apartments to go to Palestinian families (the apartments must be of equal quality). If the Palestinian families don't have the money, I think the U.S. or international community could be persuaded to cough it up in the interest of peace and interdependency. We've certainly subsidized lesser causes.
I've long thought a two-state solution -- with "Palestine" bifurcated down the middle by their hated Israel, was a geopolitical impossibility. By forcing these two people's to live together, at least those who are realistic, with a common interest in their mutual housing and environs, both people would be moving toward the inevitable co-mingling of their populations.
I think two-state (now, three state?) proposals are disingenuous at best -- from the Israeli side they are a delaying tactic, since the concessions necessary for co-existence, including disarmament and recognition, will never be met; from the Palestinian side they are a part of a strategy of slowly, inexorably, pushing Israel into the sea -- I've never heard any credible proposal as to how a Palestinian state (let alone one as divided as Gaza and the West Bank are now) would be run. Instead, they hope for the "promised land" of an undivided Palestine. No significant Palestinian leader has recognized Israel's right to exist, or even renounced armed struggle -- they would not be leaders for long if they did.
Imagine if one had a magic box, and could place all hatred and feelings of vengeance inside it from both sides. Don't worry! We have not gotten rid of those feelings, just put them inside the magic box, for now.
What would be left?
Well, there would still be enormous logistical challenges as to how to live in a parched, crowded, economically disparate region. The first thing a logical body politic would do is to tear down the wall, then they would improve the transportation and infrastructure, share the water and electricity etc. They would share access to the Mediterranean Sea.
This is an interesting thought-experiment and one both sides should consider, if just to sober themselves up to the honest practical realities of the situation in their New Jersey-sized homeland.
Of course, they won't. None of this will happen while each side is at each other's throat. But, by sharing their neighborhood, a lot could be accomplished. Think small first, then big, not the other way around -- which hasn't worked.
And if some Israeli settlers just can't bear to live with any Palestinians, they should be moved to Israel proper, willingly or not.
It is time for new solutions. The Road Map was a dead-end. The Two-State solution is a geopolitical impossibility. Obama's unimaginative pleadings, "Are you two peoples ready for peace now?" will only grant him snickers and disrespect from a region where respect is everything.
The annihilation of Israel is in no one's interest, not even the Arabs, who would then have to contend with thousands of suddenly unemployed terrorists (and likely, so would Europe, as that would be the next logical stop to recreate their Caliphate - this has been spoken of by Muslim leaders many times).
At the same time, the fourth-world existence of the Gazans and that of their slightly better-off but impatient third-world cousins in the West Bank cannot continue.
Obama promised Change, oh so long ago, but lofty speeches have to be backed up by a practical plan.
Share the buildings, share the land, save the world.
You mean, like Serbians and Bosnians? Greeks and Turks in Cyprus? Turks and Armenians? Azeris and Armenians? Turks and Kurds? Arabs and Kurds? Russians and Chechens? Christians and Muslims in Lebanon? Sunnis and Shias in Iraq? Hutu and Tutsi in Rwanda?
Sounds like an excellent idea, especially for those employed by the body bag industry.
I don't hold a great deal of hope that such a solution would be practical. The ancient practice held the sanction that such hostages would be killed if things went pear shaped. This is not conscionable in the modern era.
Arafat recognized Israel's right to exist back in the late 80's; as part of the Oslo agreement he gave up armed struggle. What did he get?
Poisoned?
Forgotten?
"Hamas has accepted Israel's right to exist and would be prepared to nullify its charter, which calls for the destruction of Israel, Aziz Dwaik, Hamas's most senior representative in the West Bank, said on Wednesday."
http://www.davidmartinabrahams.co.uk/?page=articles&id=66
Could the Zionists please make up their minds.
(It would be especially interesting to see what would happen if the residents of the 'Settlements' were forced to pay taxes to the Palestinian government, and lose the right to live there if they didn't, the way Palestinians who live in Jerusalem have to. Think a cash stream with minimal need to spend any money on those paying would let the Palestinian economy make progress?)
"And if some Israeli settlers just can't bear to live with any Palestinians, they should be moved to Israel proper, willingly or not." I didn't call specifically for pre-screening on the assumption that the settlers have already, um, settled. But, yes, there has to be compromise on both sides.
http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/en/docs/English_Research_Report_with_Cover_low_res.pdf
Im sure you know that those settlers did not leave their homelands to go to the Middle East to become Palestinians. They went there because they believe that the land is theirs and that in their minds it rightfully belongs to them. They are not looking for Palestinian citizenship, they went to Israel because it is the Jewish state and they think that Palestinian lands are part of the Jewish state.
No one is saying that the Palestinians are innocent. They have already been punished millions of times over, whether its being labeled as terrorists, or having gone to jail, living with curfews lasting years, sieges intended to punish an entire population. People like me Id like to see that its not just Palestine that is punished not only from Israel, but many countries throughout the world but I think its about time that Israel be punished just as well. You are right, in that Israel is not innocent in all this but why is it that people know that they are not innocent yet they are constantly rewarded for it rather than punished. They dont want Boycotts, they dont want UN sanctions, they dont want to cut off US aid, so basically its just an empty admission. "Yeah I know they are guilty but its all right they can slide". Had we not vetoed in the UN in the 70's , 80's or 90's we would not be where we are today.
i like the idea...now i will wait and see what hasbarist here chime, have a strong feeling that nothing short of 100% will fulfill their employers appetite
That being said, your idea is small but creative and worth thought. You're correct that neighboring poor Arab states have no reason or inclination to destroy their economies further by accepting millions of Palestinian refugees and you are certainly correct that because Israel is on the road to a one state solution some new ideas need to start being tossed around. Forcing settlers to accept living along side Palestinians would either be a success or a flaming failure but it's probably a better idea (for peace in the Middle East) than everybody sitting and waiting a couple years until the Palestinians outnumber Jewish Israelis, they ask the U.N. to force Israel to accept them as citizens, and all hell breaks loose.
Room can be made for another small country call Palistine. There will be give an take to get it done. But people who are working for peace realize two states side by side can be a reality whereas a one state solution not only won't happen, its a silly idea.
With two states and no war - there can a working relationship (there are some already in hitech) and the shared future of two countries.
Israel will always be Israel - I hope the same for the Palistinians.
Those who truly seek peace will factor that immutable fact into their calculations, and start from that basis.
Those who try to hide their venomous hatred for Jews behind a smokescreen of concern for Palestinian Arabs, work and fight to condemn the world to continued conflict in that region....but then, they don't really care. Their hatred is an immutable fact, as well.
You keep forgetting that Israel IS a sovereign nation, it's going no where, it is very important to remember this.
Personally I don't think a mere genetic link is as good a claim to property as actually living there for 2000 years, but the Jews do have a connection to that area, although probably more to a mythologised idea than to any historic reality.