No issue has the same global impact as the Palestinian/Israeli
conflict. During the cold war, the United States and the Soviet
Union twice raised their security alerts and aggressively
challenged each other over this conflict. The oil embargo of the
1970s was inspired by the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. Numerous
militants, terrorist groups and governments around the world which
seek legitimacy place the Palestinian/Israeli conflict at the
forefront of their agenda. And while the Palestinian/Israeli
conflict is not the cause of terrorism, solving this conflict may
transform the political landscape of the entire Middle East and
expose the various agendas of numerous violent groups who leach on
this conflict to win the hearts and minds of emotional and
unsuspecting people.
Because of the global impact of this conflict, the entire world
must do all it can to bring peace between the Palestinians and
Israelis. Towards that end the Free Muslims propose the
following:
Today there are three solutions to this conflict. The Israelis and
Palestinians can kill each other; they can separate by creating two
separate nations; or they can create one nation made up of two
people. Presently, the only solution being discussed is a two state
solution. This solution is based on separating both people into two
separate and sovereign nations. While the Free Muslims support any
solution that brings final peace to both Israelis and Palestinians,
we believe there are serious problems with the two state solution
that may not bring long term peace to both people.
During the Clinton administration, the Palestinians and Israelis
spent nearly ten years trying to hammer out a deal based on the two
state solution. That peace process ended in total failure.
Immediately after the failure of that peace process, Israelis and
Palestinians blamed each other for the failure; and the rest of the
world took side with either the Palestinians or the Israelis.
However, neither the Palestinians nor the Israelis are to blame for
the failure of the Clinton era peace talks which were based on the
"Oslo agreement." What caused the failure of the peace talks maybe
the solution it self rather than the parties. The consequences of
creating two separate nations by dividing Israel and Palestine were
and still are difficult pills to swallow for both Israelis and
Palestinians. It is a fact that both Israelis and Palestinians have
religious, historical and emotional attachments to every square
inch of the land that includes Israel and Palestine. The sooner the
Palestinians and Israelis understand this reality the sooner they
can solve their conflict.
From the point of view of many Israelis, the two state solution is
difficult because they would have to give up their religious and
historical attachments to the West Bank and Gaza which they call
Judea and Samaria. Many Israelis simply cannot fathom giving up the
West Bank and Gaza and maybe they should not have to. From the
point of view of the Palestinians, the two states solution is
difficult because they have historical, religious and emotional
attachments not only to the West Bank and Gaza but also to Israel
which they call the lands of 1948 after the year they lost it to
present day Israel. These are the facts and realities that the
Palestinians and Israelis have to deal with to solve their
conflict.
In light of these facts some may think that a solution to this
conflict is impossible. Not true. The Palestinian/Israeli conflict
can be solved like any other conflict as long as the parties think
outside the box and as long as no one uses violence or terrorism to
effect political change.
In light of the attachments that both parties have for the same
territory, the solution is not in separating but in coming closer
together. Many Israelis and Palestinians seem to agree that the
land they call Israel/Palestine is indivisible. Thus, the solution
lies in keeping the land that Israelis and Palestinians call home
as one nation while at the same time providing each side with the
security and the individuality the parties would have if they had
their own separate nations.
What is being proposed here is a Two State-One Nation solution
based on equality, freedom and civil rights for both Israelis and
Palestinians. The idea behind this solution is that there will be
two sovereign states similar to New York and New Jersey that
together make one nation similar to the United States of America.
However, rather than being a federation it would be a
confederation. The main difference between a federation and a
confederation is that the states in a confederacy have much more
sovereignty than in a federation.
What is being proposed here is not entirely new. What is new about
the two state-one nation solution is that it achieves the benefits
of being one united nation while reserving for both Israelis and
Palestinians the security and independence of being two separate
nations.
To illustrate this point further, note that after occupying the
West Bank and Gaza in 1967, Israel could have annexed and
integrated those territories into Israel by providing the
Palestinians with Israeli citizenship. However, Israel did not do
this and instead chose to treat the West Bank and Gaza as if they
were part of Israel physically without providing the Palestinians
in those territories with citizenship, political rights or civilian
rule. Among the reasons Israel did not integrate the Palestinians
of the West Bank and Gaza into Israel is because Israelis were
afraid of a demographic problem. The Israelis feared that if they
gave the Palestinians equality, political and civil rights that the
Palestinians may one day out number the Israelis and vote Israel
out of existence. While we understand this concern by Israelis,
those Israelis who fear giving the Palestinians equality and civil
rights assume that they cannot give the Palestinians equality and
at the same time have a Jewish state. This is a false assumption.
The territory that includes Israel and Palestine can be one nation
where the Palestinians have equality, political and civil rights
and at the same time be a safe heaven for Jews from all over the
world.
This can be done by creating a confederation of two states united
by a federal type government with limited powers. The country can
be called the United States of Israel and Palestine. While both
states should have the right to limit immigration and migration
within their borders, the principles of the nation should be based
on the free movement of labor and people. To the extent that
Israelis move to Palestine and Palestinians to Israel, we can avoid
the demographic consequences of the migration by having their votes
count in their respective state regardless of where they live. This
approach will totally avoid the demographic fear that Israelis have
by making certain that migration of people does not dilute the
political power of Jews or Palestinians in their local and state
politics.
As to the national government, Israel and Palestine shall each
contribute 50% to the national parliament regardless of their
populations. With this solution, the Israelis do not have to fear
political dilution from potential demographic changes and the
Palestinians do not have to fear political dilution from the
Israelis.
As to the President or Prime Minister of the national government of
the United States of Israel and Palestine, they should be elected
by the national parliament. Being that the parliament is divided
50/50 no Palestinian or Israeli can win without support from
parliamentarians of the other side. This will guarantee that no
Palestinian or Israeli extremist can become president of the United
States of Israel and Palestine.
Initially, the national government should have limited powers
similar to the United States government in the early days of the
Union. As time progresses and both Israelis and Palestinians feel
more comfortable with each other, they may chose to give the
confederation more authority. In essence the early days of the
national government of the United States of Israel and Palestine
should resemble an entity more like the European Union than the
U.S. federal government.
On economic matters, Israel and Palestine shall act as one nation
with no exception. They shall have the same currency, no tariffs
and complete free trade. The early days of the national government
or confederation shall be to bring jobs and economic prosperity to
both Israelis and Palestinians. This should be an easy task. A
peaceful Israel and Palestine acting as one nation would be a gold
mine the likes of which the world has never seen. A nation that is
the birth place of western civilization and immensely revered by
Jews, Christians and Muslims, religious tourism alone will
guarantee a healthy economy in perpetuity.
However, the economy will have more than tourism to secure its
prosperity. A nation of Palestinians and Israelis at peace with
their neighbors shall have unlimited opportunities. The technical
know-how of Israel, the available capital in the Arab world and a
geography that is at the intersection of three continents can
produce an economic power house that is second to none on a per
capita basis. Moreover, a peaceful nation made up of Palestine and
Israel at peace with their neighbors will not only bring economic
prosperity to that nation but also to the entire Middle East.
This solution may not be perfect. However, this proposed solution
may be the only solution that will give the Palestinians and
Israelis most of what they want while at the same time allows both
people to keep their individual identity and live as one nation.
Moreover, with this solution, Jerusalem becomes a non-issue and
borders become less relevant. This solution will basically take
Israelis and Palestinians back to the time before the first
intifada (uprising) began in 1987 with the only difference being
that the Palestinians will have rights and equality that they never
had under the occupation. As proof that this solution can work is
the fact that Israel has one million Palestinians with Israeli
citizenship and they are not demonstrating, throwing rocks or
blowing themselves up. Why is this? The only difference between
Palestinians who are citizens of Israel and Palestinians in the
West Bank and Gaza is that one group has freedom, political and
civil rights while the other has nothing. Israel did not recognize
the Palestinians of the West Bank and Gaza as citizens. They were
put under military rule, and they were segregated in everyway.
To summarize, the Free Muslims are asking the Palestinians to reach
out to their Israeli and Jewish partners and say the following:
"We understand why the state of Israel is important to you. We are
fully aware of the persecution that Jews suffered throughout
history and the necessity of having a safe heaven for Jews. We also
understand that Jews have historical and religious ties to
Israel/Palestine. We believe that every Jew shall have the right to
move to Israel and become a citizen immediately. We also welcome
Jews to visit and to reside in the West Bank and Gaza. We want the
Palestinians and Israelis to live together as neighbors, friends
and countrymen. In return, what we want is freedom, liberty and
equality for the Palestinians. Will you meet us half way?"
The Free Muslims are also asking Israelis and Jews to reach out to
their Palestinians Partners and say the following:
"We understand why Palestine is important to you. We are fully
aware of the suffering the Palestinians have experience over the
last 100 years and the necessity of having a safe haven for
Palestinians. We also understand that Palestinians have historical
and religious ties to Israel/Palestine. We believe that every
Palestinian shall have the right to move to Palestine and become a
citizen immediately. We also welcome the Palestinians to visit and
to reside in Israel. We want the Palestinians and Israelis to live
together as neighbors, friends and countrymen. In return, what we
want is permanent security, liberty, equality and the total freedom
to be Jews. Will you meet us half way?"
