One Country
"There is a fantasy, a fantasy of separation... that the other will just disappear"
- Ali Abunimah, co-founder of www.electronicintifada.net, on the two-state 'solution'
For a long time, we have been told that the only way to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is the two-state solution- mutual recognition, mutual sovereignty. I was never an expert on the conflict anyway, and so I thought, this must be the only solution. But what kept plaguing me, in the back of my mind was, what about the refugees that were ethnically cleansed in 1948 and after? Surely the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem were too tiny to accomodate for all those people (and I now discover, it is only 22% of what Palestine was). But what did I know?
But after listening to the alternative, the better alternative, the one that actually guarantees justice for the people living in the Occupied Territories and the Diaspora, I am totally convinced. The only way to go is One Country , shared by Jews and Arabs.
If you need to hear the argument, please take the time to listen to Ali Abunimah, author of "One Country: A bold proposal to end the Israeli-Palestinian impasse"
or even better, read the book, which has been described by Avi Shlaim, author of 'The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab World'-
"By its expansionist policies Israel has destroyed the foundations of a two-state solution while unilateral separation has been exposed as a dangerous delusion. The time has therefore come for an honest exploration of alternative solutions. One Country is a major contribution to this debate, combining as it does extensive knowledge with a commitment to justice for the Palestinians. It is a must read for anyone seeking to understand the problems of the present and the possibilities of peace in the Middle East."
Comments and faves
empTV, desda, ~ boxBOX, bigbluemeanie, and 92 other people added this photo to their favorites.
Nós da Montanha (64 months ago | reply)
Beautiful image, Aphrodite. Right into the eyes (and soul) of those who live this harsh reality.
I believe too that this is the only solution. Unfortunately, it takes too many deaths, too much tragedy, it takes exhaustion for hatred to wear out and people finally tire of war, and see The Others as the unthinkable: their own kin and kind.
ღ Maaly Metheel™ ღ (64 months ago | reply)
very nice =)
اللهم انصرنا على القوم الكافرين
Ozone9999, Duke and Sarge (64 months ago | reply)
I love the image! The two-state "solution" has always been Israel's idea while at the same time they have worked to ensure that it could never work. The local people of Palestine have lived together in relative harmony for many years. The Zionist, the politicians on both sides, and the world press have created conflicts over the years to keep the flames of discontent burning.
yettis doings (64 months ago | reply)
You know my views on the plight of the Palestinians, it is criminal but you need to go back to 1919 I think, the problem doesn't just lie with Israel, although they do thier level best to scupper any initiative, but it is the willingness of the French who still hold a lot of sway over the likes of Syria and Iran. The Americans must stop providing Israel the wherewithall to hold the balance of power in the region. We cannot afford to attempt to recify the gross mistakes of the past with seriously mis-guided if well intentioned solutions. In my humble but not too uninformed opinion we must invest heavily in the region not only in Palestine but in Jordan, the Lebanon, but in ways that is sympathetic to the requirements of the people. There must be no forced ideals but an education program to show the populace ways to encourage inward investment. Just imagine the people in that part of the world are sitting on thousands of years of history think about what that is worth. would you honestly want anyone other than indigenous Arabs benefitting from all that potential tourism? Unfortunately what's done is done we cannot turn the clocks back but we could provide the local people with enough knowledge and financial clout to become self sufficiant and prosperous to give them back self belief and harness that national pride so they can live their lives in peace without having to continually look over their shoulders to see what the blasted nieghbours are up to. I'll stop rambling now I'm sorry to have taken your time but one day, soon, I'm going to spend a few months in that area I'd quite like to come home in the same condition as I left.
metacognitian (64 months ago | reply)
aphrodite, you've brought up an issue that cannot be disregarded. Abunimah does propose an unconventional solution and I'd like to read the book as with my (lack of) knowledge I can't quite understand how it would actually work.
if this is the only solution, yet no one is willing to comply, then it is no longer a solution. conflicts have only been perpetuated. they have, each, put so much into fighting for the land that it would feel like a loss for both of them if they agreed to share it. this would mean, to many of them, that so many of their loved ones have died for nothing.
Just knowing that the conflict will go on until the end of time makes me feel hopeless about the issue. but knowing that I'll die one day shouldn't make me give up my life, should it. and therefore it isn't useless to think about the solutions. I'm just not sure about this one.
It's hard to see the israelis and the palestinians both agree to coexist. it certainly won't be easy.
I think I've rambled. Thanks for provoking our thoughts on the issue with your photograph and brief discussion of the palestinian-israeli situation.
ginger(bite)
Wind LaSS (64 months ago | reply)
Amen =!
Adam 【Rez】 (64 months ago | reply)
@Nós da Montanha: The only solution is to kill people sitting at a cafe sipping on a cup of coffee? Ah ok...
Mr The Poet (64 months ago | reply)
I've lost faith in the justice system when it comes to world politics nowadays. The proposal although it makes sense does not sound very pragmatic. It smells like Gandhi's solution to the Hindu/Muslim problem in India (though this one goes far, far more deeper). Jinnah's argument was that Gandhi and Nehru had spent most of their lives in prison and had not seen the violence at first hand.
I'm no politician but here is the text of the speech delivered by Hazrat Chaudhry Sir Mohammad Zafrullah Khan on 'The Palestinian question' that he delivered to the UN. It is probably the greatest single contribution to the casue of the Arabs by an individual. Here Maybe it would help put things into perspective for those who wish to read it.
ß®øøk£™ [deleted] (64 months ago | reply)
Great picture. I wouldn't have used the watercolor effect...it takes away from the message a little.
solar8 (64 months ago | reply)
Great shot !...I hope peace is round the corner for you guys !!
zokete (64 months ago | reply)
Palestina Libre!
Dosha (64 months ago | reply)
Very powerful photo and message. Great shot!
velvetart (64 months ago | reply)
inshallah...
MeShaRi 57 (64 months ago | reply)
AmeeN...
Nicolas Z. (64 months ago | reply)
Free Palestine !!!!!!!
Stop Israel !!!!!!!!!!!
cheers from Argentina
--
Seen in the interestingness archives. (?)
~Aphrodite (64 months ago | reply)
Nos da Montaha- In Abunimah's book, he starts by describing some memoirs of his mother talking about her childhood. His mother lived side by side with Jews, they would send food over to each other and she played with her Jewish neighbor as a child, until she and her family were expelled.
Separation, the keeping apart of these two people, fosters that enmity. True, it may take more deaths untl this outcome comes about, but ultimately it is what will bring these people together.
Maaly Mtheel- :)
Ozone- True.. there is actually a mutli-million dollar business dedicated to convincing people that there is only one solution, the two-state one, and then convincing them that there is no 'partner' for that. Shameful.
Yetti- I really do miss you! I do agree, all these foreign powers must get out of the region. It's despicable when we live in a world where colonialism is condemned, that these states can be so hypocritical. It may not be blatant imperialism as we read about it in our history books, but a concealed kind that purports to 'liberate' people.
With regards Palestine, the people of today are still suffering from the injustices of the past. This didn't happen a thousand years ago, people can still remember it and they shouldn;t have to live with the effects of it.
Trique - The solution isn't as unconventional as we think. This has been the position of the PLO until the 1980s and still is the position of Hamas (well until very recently). The people of Palestine have resigned to the two-state solution because they've suffered enough, a little is better than nothing, but it doesn't mean that this is what they want.
I think it is possible for Israelis and Palestinians to coexist. It will take time, no doubt, but it can happen. There will be problems, but ultimately this way actually puts these people together in a way that they can interact, out of the stereotypical framework that they are imagined in.
Moreover, Abunimah's proposal arises out of the impossibility of the two state solution. Israel describes itself as the "Jewish democtratic" state. What happens when the 1.3m Palestinians living in Israel become 3m, 4m, 5m? What happens when they become the majority? How can Israel be a Jewish state, unless the Arabs are deported out of Israel or deprived of their political rights in Israel? It is impossible for Israel to exist on that premise.
Windlass- Hugs to you!
Adam Rez- That's not what she meant, and I don't understand what you mean...
Wickers Poet- If you read his book, it is actually more pragmatic than it seems, if even from a purely practical point of view, let alone the justice it provides. Sorry I haven't had time to see the link, but I will try to soon!
Jessica Brooke- I wasn't going to, I had 4 different versions but I chose this one because the others were too soft or blurry.
solar8- I hope so too, but we can't stop at hoping. We really need to raise awareness and be united in our resistance.
zokete- amen to that!
Dosha- thank you!
velvetart- inshAllah indeed. How've you been?
meShari- ameen ya Rabb
e-nikkos- cheers to you too!
Btw everyone, I just came back from Ali Abunimah's talk!! He came to our university and spoke about his bookd. Truly a brilliant man. Go to www.electronicintifada.net to see his stuff (and other people!!
Andie * (63 months ago | reply)
Free Palestine !!!!!!!
peace for everyone !
cheers from Venezuela!!!..
Katelyn Vonfeldt [deleted] (63 months ago | reply)
this is amazing.. congrats on being an "interesting" photo
kiming(豬頭牙刷) (63 months ago | reply)
very nice
colecuze (63 months ago | reply)
Moving image
U'rouge (63 months ago | reply)
powerful image, u should sell the rights for T-shirts, banners, and peace pins
George the Greek (63 months ago | reply)
Thank you, illuminating discussion. And good political image.
I too thought Two State solution was the only way, this opened up new thinking.
Mideast needs a lot of understanding, more unity, nonviolence.
I see most militarization (including terrorist, sect-against-sect as in Baghdad, and indeed the US involvement in Iraq) as a bad path to peace. Violence does not produce peace.
I hope for peace for the Mideast. And the world.
~Aphrodite (63 months ago | reply)
Andre*- Hugs from here too, keep spreading the cause!
solictous- thanks :)
kiming- thank you!
colecuze- Hope it's moving enough to spark some change ;p
u'rouge- I actually wanted to make it into a postcard!
George- What's needed more than anything is justice. Sometimes there is 'peace', in the sense of no one fighting, but it doesn't mean that people have their rights or feel satisfied and this inevitably leads to people acting out because of the frustration and desperation. To get a lasting peace, justice needs to be served, to some degree at least.
I hope for a lasting peace for everyone. Thank you for your sentiments.
Adam 【Rez】 (63 months ago | reply)
Why can't people just learn to live together? I can coexist with anyone that can coexist with me peacefully. Just seems some people can't do this.
I will say it is a good photo though...
ahmed (John) (63 months ago | reply)
very meaningful n great shot, well done
RiftDweller (63 months ago | reply)
~Aphrodite (63 months ago | reply)
Adam - Sometimes we can be taught how, starting with actually meeting with each other on equal terms...
Ahmed - Thanx
Rifty- lol you like coke?
AnomalousNYC (63 months ago | reply)
Whether you agree with him or not, Abuminah is a reliable, thoroughly credible and moral voice.
(Si) (63 months ago | reply)
i think this is one of the best pictures i have ever seen...
thanks
~Aphrodite (63 months ago | reply)
Anomalous- Totally, and a good man too.
He totally convinced me, especially since he recognizes that there are problems with his suggestion as well but that it was the best way forward. Strangely at his talk no one could make a strong enough argument to counter his for the two-state solution except "the problem is Muslims and Jews can't get along", to which he replied "Why? Because Jews have their holy day on Saturday and Muslims on Friday?"
SimoSuperFreak- Thank you!
kapa * (63 months ago | reply)
Great image. Very significant. I like it. Ciao
P i x e l (63 months ago | reply)
U go gurl !
~Aphrodite (63 months ago | reply)
kapa_o_panga- Thank you
Pixel - lol woo hoo
-dror- (63 months ago | reply)
I don't think you show the "two state" solution correctly. because it doesnt quite mean one state for the Jewish people and another for the Palestinian people.
Realisticly, it actually means, one state for Palestinians and Jews (Israe) and another for Palestinians only.
The one state solution is a nice idea. not realistic at all, but it does sound nice on paper..
the Poet's comparison to India is an interesting one..Ive thought about it too, but have no conclusion. yet.
~Aphrodite (63 months ago | reply)
Sparrow - I know that it does not mean one state for Jews and one for Palestinians as there are Palestinians in Israel. But the formation of the Palestinian State has been blocked by the Israeli settlements (The newest settlement was set up in a Palestinian neighborhood in Hebron just on the 19th of March!) and land confiscation by that absurd wall. Also, it goes back to the question of the refugees- they are too many to fit into the proposed Palestinian State and Israel has denied them the right of return to their own homes. Where do they go?
Moreover, the state for "Palestinians and Jews" isn't so rosy either, firstly because the Palestinians living there are marginalized (read Jonathan Cook's Blood and Religion) and the Bedouin population dispossesed, and secondly because Israel has to remain a country of Jewish majority to be a Jewish State. Where does that leave the Palestinian population? Last year Yisrael Beiteinu was the 4th largest political party in Israel (I'm not sure about this year) and it advocates transferring a number of Palestinian towns in Israel to Palestinian Authority control, thus revoking the Israeli citizenship of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.
I know that there are problems with the one state solution and I don't claim it's perfect- yes there is hatred and racism, but separation will only fuel that.
-dror- (63 months ago | reply)
about "Yisrael Beiteinu" their proposal isnt transfering the popultion. but, in order to realize the 2 state solution, they suggest that a section of Israel which is populated by a vast majority of Arabs be given (without physically moving) to the Palestinian state while Jewish settelements be given to Israel. therefore the two state solution would be closer to a Jewish state and a Palestinian state.
for general knowloedge, Bedouins do not see themselves as Palestinians (there is a speceific problem there but a different one)
Also you do not mention the fact that a number of settelments from Gaza were removed, a large step towardsa 2 state solution.
this move was not a part of negotiation, therfore, the Palestinian's situation in this aspect was improved whithout them having to giveup land, recognize Israel's right to exist, stop terror, firing missiles daily at Israel and so on...
the wall as you call it, by itself is not wrong, the only question is, the specefic trail where it passes though, where it passes on the green line (67 truce) there cannot be any argument against it, unless you do not recognize the green line as a legitimate border.
What i;d like to know, is whether you recognize the Jewish right to a state of their own, also how do you see a a single state solution realizable, in the middle-east, in the heart of Arab-Muslim countries.
do you truly believe, that the Jewish people will be safe without any possibilty of self rule? is returing to a situation where the Jewish people cannot self-govern really better for everybody (or just for some? )
somehow it seems to me, the one state solution overlooks, differences of language, religon, culture and so on..
it solves the speceifc problem of the 1948 refugees. it creates and recreates much more problems.
kapa * (63 months ago | reply)
Peace & Love!!!
~Aphrodite (63 months ago | reply)
Sparrow - sorry for taking ages to reply, unfortunately exams are coming up so I'm managing studying and flickr at the same time!
I have to say that I disagree with you on a number of points. While I am not an expert onYisrael Beiteinu, what I have read shows that it is quite a racist group. For example, in 2004, Lieberman is quoted to have saying about Israel's Arab citizens (in public) "They have no place here. They can take their bundles and get lost." Whether transferring them or merging the area with a Palestinian State is wrong if you do not have their consent- if Israel is indeed a democratic state. Moreover, Leiberman wants to pass an amendment to the citizenship law that would require the remaining Arabs to swear an oath of loyalty to the "Jewish and Democratic State"- instead of a state of all its citizens, which is what democracies are supposed to be in theory. In the UK, politicians do not have to swear allegiance to the Church of England, and recently in the US, a Muslim senator (or mayor? I can't remember) swore an oath on the Qur'an, not the Bible. This would not be possible in Israel under Yisrael Beiteinu.
About Gaza, in return the settlements in the West Bank have expanded. While the settlements were removed from Gaza, it was turned into an open air prison, where all entry into and exit from Gaza is controlled by Israel. The 'disengagement' was never really a full disengagement, because from the beginning it was decided that Israeli military would control all crossing points, Gaza's skies and seas, the building and operation of any future port or airport would be under Israeli permission (or denied permission), and the people of Gaza would have no ability to ship agricultural products out or bring crucial medicines in, except under Israeli control. That is not what I call independence. Moving settlors out is a step, but it still does guarantee the people all their rights. Come on, imagine it was you- it's like being under house arrest and not knowing where your next meal is coming from.
The Wall, as the UN has called it, is illegal. On 9 July 2004, the ICJ made clear that the construction of the Wall and the settlements were illegal. 80% of the wall cuts into Palestinian territories, sometimes up to 20km. There is no such thing as a green line when it comes to the wall. Palestinians living on the other side of it cannot see the sunset anymore, and it has destroyed people's homes and farmlands. It is mindboggling to me how this project is still going on!
The Jews do have a right to a land of their own and self-governance, but not at the expense of the indigenous people of the land. If Israel had been set up in a place where there were no people, a terra nullius , then no one would care. The fact is, the state was set up by ethnically cleansing the indigenous population, who are still suffering today and deserve some justice- they are all waiting to go home. The rest are living under occupation which seems to have no end.
I think a one-state solution actually guarantees security for the Jewish people more than an exclusively Jewish State that occupies Palestinian land, so far all of the bombings in Israel have been because of this. The rest of the Arab states would resume diplomatic relations.
As for overlooking language, look at Belgium and Switzerland, which have officially three languages operating. Israel may be a Jewish state but this does not mean that everyone shares specifically the same culture, as you have Arab Jews, Russian Jews etc.
I know I am perhaps oversimplifying the issues here, but no one has given me a strong enough argument against the one-state idea.
~Aphrodite (63 months ago | reply)
kapa o pango - amen to that!
yettis doings (63 months ago | reply)
Dear Aphro I very much hope that your exams go well for you I know how hard you've worked. Don't forget what I told you last year you are needed by the people that are unable to talk for themselves so there isn't much pressure at all. One state two state can wait til late...er. Poetry on the hoof.
~Aphrodite (63 months ago | reply)
hehe Yetti I love you! This is revision for me, as one of my courses is the history of Arab-Israeli conflict.. by far the best course I've ever done!! Thanks so much, I'm going to have to work extra hard this year!!
yettis doings (63 months ago | reply)
And I love you too, you're a very special person.
aMbiAncE mOushKiLa (63 months ago | reply)
what a beautiful vision. another Andalusia... it happened once. it can happen again.
greetings to you :) hope you're well !
AnomalousNYC (63 months ago | reply)
The one-state solution proposal has a fascinating history. IT was the original position of the PLO, which they held out for for many decades.
The US and Israel pressured them to abandon this proposal as a prerequisite for any discussion. Arafat bowed to the pressure, and the two-state solution became since the ealry 90s the popular and preferred formula. Now that the heat is on israel and it is clear that Israelis prefer NO SOLUTION - which means of course the persistant zionist dream of the eventual disappearance and annihilation of Palestinians - suddenly everyone is moving back to the one state solution proposal.
I agree that in principle this is the only working solution in the long term. But the problem is, of course, that Jews have already stolen virtually all the land. A one-state solution now would basically cement into stone this ethnic cleansing process, leaving Palestinians encircled on shit lands, with Jews holding onto all the arable land and strategic real estate. Not only has the 78% of mandatory Palestine that is today Israel been Judaized, but now a further 45% of the West Bank has also been Judaized, and the ethnic cleansing process around Greater Jerusalem is expanding massively. 2006 saw a record number of settlers moving [illegally] into the occupied territories.
A one-state solution now means that all these fucking thieves keep everything they have stolen, while half of the population of Israel-Palestine is effectively confined into less than 10% of the worst and most useless land.
I have always viewed my support for a two-state solution as a necessarily interim solution - the barely minimal acceptable version of pseudo-justice, a new starting point from which the two states can move towards an eventual and inevitable federation or union of some kind.
But without an interim two-state solution, you are basically giving away half of the occupied territories - the best half - to the fanatical scumbag murders we far too generously call "settlers", and condemning many millions of Palestinians to permanent poverty and servitude on land which is incapable of supporting its own population.
yettis doings (63 months ago | reply)
I have to agree with anomalous, I don't believe that the Palastinians could enter into any such talks in the currant situation. It is important to negotiate whilst holding a position of strength. I can see no way round altering the current climate until all the Arab nations bring steady pressure to bear. this need not be too traumatic, distasteful or long winded but it needs to be done. If you combine that with the lobbying to the authorities by people that are aware of the situation then a posative outcome cannot be too far away. The question is is there enough support?
-dror- (63 months ago | reply)
I am not a supporter of Yisrael Beiteinu, so i wont go into the specifics of that party. What I do find strange about your comment, yousay - that Yisrael Beiteinu is racist (without gettting into the race issue - this is an error - there are Jews of every race etc), and you even refer to some quotes which i have no need to check, the reason is simple - you show one or two racist quotes? you could probably find more couldnt you? and couldnt I? i could easily find a quote from probably every major arab leader in middle east in the last 50-60 or more years calling for the destruction of Israel (or calling for the islamation of the world as recently mentoned my Hamas leaders).
The disengagment wasnt full. I agree. It was still a large step, showing no more than intention. it can always be critisized, but it cannot be so minimalized or ignored as to be a meaningless step, showing willingness to perform acts which are difficult to the israeli people.
I am sorry that this our discussion strayed from its origin. I hardly did get an answer from you to how you see the one state solution doable, all i see are claims against the Israeli government and policies.
(I also did not understand why you quote a UN resolution on one hand, when another was to establish a Jewish-state in Israel.)
It is worth mentioning, arabic is an offical language in israel, also, to the best of my knowledge, israel is still the only non-islamic country which has government backed Islamic school (also Christian by the way)
There has been a lot of writing in the last few years, of the transformation of the conflict from political to religous. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject.
~Aphrodite (63 months ago | reply)
ambiance moushkila - If only that vision would become a reality :) Btw I love your nic!
Anomalous - and now I'm depressed. I'm not against a temporary two-state solution, one that eventually leads to a union. I'm just thinking about the refugees in the meanwhile. I'm afraid that once there are two states officially, Israel uses it to its advantage by showing that it did what it had to and that's that.
In the meantime, as you've shown, more and more settlors are moving into the West Bank, which itself is being cut off into tiny bits, Jewish and Arab. The Wall is further confiscating more land. I know I'm not saying anything new to you, but it just seems that Israel will never allow even a two-state solution to materialize without stealing even more land, and suffocating the Palestinians.
Yetti - I guess Anomalous would agree with this, that most people just aren't bothered, and the rest are brainwashed by the media. There would be enough support if people actually know. The question is how to inform people! ALthough I am slightly optimistic. A proffessor at our university was showing us how discussion and support for Palestine has seen an unprecendented rise at universities in the UK, especially at ours. So maybe there's hope after all...
Sparrow - You could probably find a racist comment about the "Arabs" by every single Israeli PM to date. You have George Bush calling Iran and Syria the "axis of evil". During the Cold War, many people wanted the destruction of the "Communist State". That's not the point. The point is that he is saying that about citizens of the country. Imagine Tony Blair saying to cut off all the Pakistani-populated areas in Britain and making those areas an extention of Pakistan. Or Bush saying they should kick out all the native Americans. That is the point.
I have to disagree with you again about Gaza. Israel is under obligation to withdraw from Gaza and the West Bank. Just because they 'withdrew' it does not make it a nice little gift given to the Palestinians- it is their right. It wouldn't be difficult for the Israeli people if the government hadn't encouraged the settlors in the first place. Meanwhile, more and more settlors are moving into the West Bank. That shows 'willingness', but of a different kind.
I quoted a UN statement because you made it seem as though I was the only one calling the wall by what it is. UN resolution 181 to partition Palestine is such a long issue that I don't have time to discuss it here.
(And actually Britain also has government backed faith schools, which is every so aften debated in the media)
I don't t have any clear cut answers. I don't know how the one-state solution can materialize. But I do think it's worth it to get people talking about it, to put it out on the table as a viable alternative.
Hamed Saber (62 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Israel-Iran-Palestine, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
Free..................
~Aphrodite (62 months ago | reply)
Sure :)
Btw can I recommend that everyone watches these two clips:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTrf3PrdRvU (part 1)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXuxPefzX1Q (part 2)
West Bank story- apparently it won an Oscar. It's really quite funny...
Hamed Saber (62 months ago | reply)
It would be great if you post the links in group discussion, so other members can watch them too