two-state solution

The two-state solution is the name for a class of proposed resolutions of the long-running Arab-Israeli conflict. There are many different proposals under this rubric, which differ substantially in their details, although all share a basic concept (reflected in the name). It is contrasted with the binational solution and forced transfer solutions (of either side). Proponents of a two-state solution to the conflict generally advocate two separate states in the Western portion of the historic region of Palestine, one each intended primarily for the Jewish and Arab populations. Territories that Israel captured in the West Bank and Gaza during the Six-Day War would become a new Palestinian state. Their Palestinian Arab inhabitants would be given citizenship by the new state; Arabs in the world-wide Palestinian exodus would likely be offered such citizenship as well. Arab citizens of present-day Israel would likely have the choice of staying with Israel, or becoming citizens of the new Palestine. The proposal is immensely controversial, although most outside observers consider some form of it the most reasonable likely solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

History

Variations on the basic idea have a long history. The Peel Commission report of 1937 envisioned a partition of the British Mandate of Palestine area into three sections: Arab, Jewish, and a small continued Mandate area (effectively under international control), containing Jerusalem. The Arab leadership rejected the plan, while the Jewish leadership accepted it reluctantly. The next major proposal to suggest a partition was the 1947 UN Partition plan for the division of Palestine. It also proposed a three-way division, again with Jerusalem held separately, under international control. It too was rejected by the leadership of Arab nations and the Palestinian leadership at the time, although this plan was accepted by the Jewish inhabitants.

Recent events

In the 1990s the pressing need for a peace in the area, brought the two-state idea back to centre stage. At one point in the late 1990s, considerable diplomatic work went into negotiating a two-state solution between the parties, including the Oslo Accords and culminating in the Camp David 2000 Summit, and follow-on negotiations at Taba in January 2001. However, no final agreement was reached. Variations include a Palestinian state in all of the West Bank and Gaza Strip or some portion thereof. In some proposals raised in talks with the Palestinians there would have been territorial adjustments involving some small sections of current Israeli territory. Some Israelis hold that the two-state solution was implemented in 1922 when Britain split off the eastern 75% of the Mandate to create Transjordan which became Jordan, a state with an Arab majority population. Some Israeli politicians, such as former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, argue for a form of two-state solution in which a Palestinian state is granted most of the attributes of an independent state but denied certain aspects of sovereignty that might allow it to threaten Israel. Netanyahu argues, for example, that the future states' ability to import arms should be restricted. The Palestinian leadership does not view such proposals as being in the true spirit of the two-state solution concept.

Two-state Solution

History

Recent events

See also