In this essay, a different solution is offered to the one currently proposed by Prsident Obama. It is one that suggests the possibility of establishing a one Democratic country for all its inhabitants and may prove to be more easily doable.

(From Tel Aviv) MANY WHO LISTENED TO or read President Barak Obama’s speech in Cairo on June 4 were impressed by his determined quest to end the century long conflict and make a serious effort to reach out for peace. The challenge that he posed to himself, to Israel, to the Palestinians and their neighbors in the Middle East, was to reach a solution and establish, as soon as practicable, what he believes should be two countries for the two people. It was clear as he spoke, that the challenges involved are difficult and complex taking into account there is considerable resistance from both Israelis and Palestinians. Indeed, at this time, there are many doubts about whether the proposals he made, can be implemented. Certainly, it will require imagination and most probably outside pressure to reach such an agreed upon settlement.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE REGION

The option of creating for the whole population living in the territory (including the arid Negev desert), some 26,000 square km in size, from the Jordan to the Mediterranean as a “one country democracy”, (some might imprecisely describe it as the “bi-national state”) is rarely addressed or studied. It should however be noted that, except for the 19 years between 1948 and 1967, in the close to 92 years, since the British forces under the command of General Allenby occupied Jerusalem in the autumn of 1917, the whole of Palestine and Israel, were governed by one ruler, first British and then Israeli.

Theoretically, it is possible, as the President expects, to partition this territory into two or even three parcels. The alternative course should be to modernize the mode of government of the entire country, ensuring that the populations living in those sectors to the east of the 1949 armistice lines enjoy equal social and civil rights, to those of their neighbors living within the pre-1967 borders of Israel. At this time, and unlike the Israeli Palestinians living to the West of these lines, the Arab population living in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, have no civil rights that the population living in a Democratic country should be entitled to.

When seeking the route to establish the two countries for the two people, it is relevant to remember that within the pre-1967 Israel, live today well over one million Arabs and other non-Jews. Accordingly it would be an imprecise assertion to state that this pre-1967 state can be defined as a Jewish State. Also, on the “Palestinian” West Bank today, there are several hundred settlements spread across the whole region in which over 400,000 Jewish settlers are living composing more than 12 percent of the population living there. While each have a Jewish and Arab majority, both would have a civic responsibility towards the minorities living nearby.

“As it is impossible to separate, in an omelet, its original composition, the egg white and the egg yolk, it cannot be seriously considered to separate the Jewish settlers, so deeply embedded among the Arab population living west of the Jordan, from the “Jewish” State in its pre-1967 borders.”

THE “JEWISH STATE”

It is accepted that many Israelis wish Israel were a Jewish State, but one might have questioned whether from the outset, the use of the term a “Jewish” State was ever applicable. When the UN, on November 29, 1947 in its resolution 181 voted for the partition of Palestine, in the partition it proposed to apportion a territory in which the majority of the Jews residing in Palestine, approximately 600,000, there were also some 420,000 Arabs living. At that time there was no indication that within a short time some two thirds of these Arabs would choose to become refugees or be expelled by force. Even after these developments took place, and in the following 60 years, the percentage of the Jews of the total population, rarely exceeded 80 percent of the total number of Israelis.

Although since the 1967 Six Day War, politicians and left wing intellectuals spoke repeatedly of the advantages in establishing an independent Palestine in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, no concrete proposals or practical steps were taken in the following forty years to achieve such an end. On the contrary, as the settlement program begun soon after 1967 to expand and intensified when the Likud led by Menachem Begin came to power in 1977, the possibility of resolving the conflict, based on the two countries for the two people concept, that clearly existed in the immediate aftermath of the war, gradually receded to the point that it was no longer practicable.

And thus, supported by Israeli authorities, the growth in the number of both settlements and settlers in the past thirty years, made their achievements of occupation irreversible, canceling the possibility of partition into two different-independent States, one Palestine for the Arabs and the second Israel for the Jews. As it is impossible to separate, in an omelet, its original composition, the egg white and the egg yolk, it cannot be seriously considered to separate the Jewish settlers, so deeply embedded among the Arab population living west of the Jordan, from the “Jewish” State in its pre-1967 borders.

GREAT OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME

To date, hardly any thought has been given to the inevitable difficulties in resolving and what should be done either to move forward, either towards structuring the two neighboring countries for the two people, or alternatively, what will it entail to build a democracy for all its citizens, that will guarantee the security, provide mutual respect, in a free independent country where all have full equality.

Obviously to do so, it will be imperative for both Jews and Arabs to learn how, and agree to, live in mutual respect and in peace together. Never having been tried, doing so will be an awesome undertaking. The obstacles on route could prove to be horrendous and quite possibly frightening. To begin such a program and to persist will call for enormous resources both human and financial, patience and much goodwill. Carrying it out shall require a multi-year and very intricate operation. And although it is not at all certain it will ultimately prove to be a success, if it will be carried out with determination, commitment and sincerity, the odds are it could prove to be an impressive achievement.

“It is not known, at this time, whether President Obama realizes the obstacles concerning the partition of two countries for the two people, or whether his administration has studied difficulties on route.”

AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR CHANGE

A decision to move ahead towards a one country of all its population, will call for an extended educational program that will address the whole population living on the West of Jordan, both Jews and Arabs. In it they will learn to understand and respect the full meaning of civil and social equality, partnership and mutual respect. Only through accepting these tenets will the peaceful coexistence of both people be assured. To do so, it will be imperative that both the Israeli and the Palestinian leadership (and public opinion formers) will be convinced that they will be facing a challenge that they can no longer avoid, and obviously that will consume a considerable amount of time.

Further to the whole educational program, there will have to be a need for joint teams of professionals who will study in depth how to proceed with drafting a constitution that will, not least, ensure in a state of changing demographic trends, Minority Rights, whether Arab, Jew or others living in the country. It will be important that these will not only be declaratory, but will include a detailed joint study concerning the educational process of all the tribes living in these regions and the way to carry it all out over a period of time.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSABILITY

Implementing such an ambitious program may require international guarantees. But it should be assumed that if the world recognizes the opportunity offered and has reason to believe that both sides are serious and sincere, these can be attained.

It is not known, at this time, whether President Obama realizes the obstacles concerning the partition of two countries for the two people, or whether his administration has studied difficulties on route. These, as noted in this essay, include the fact that at this time, the leadership of both communities have not been convinced to form such a program, or that both the Jews and the Palestinians have came to grips with the fact that a precondition to a settlement calls for full social and civic equality among all. Nor have they been convinced of how essential it is to commence to learn together not only the structure of the state, but the educational process so imperative to reach it.

In spite of all the uncertainty, it is essential to begin by taking the decision and setout on the road to peace. Doing so will prove to be an honorable adventure and if the majority are committed, it is bound to succeed.