Two-state solution
The two-state solution to the Israel–Palestine conflict usually means a plan for an independent State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel in the territory of the former Mandatory Palestine, west of the Jordan River. The boundary between the two states is still controversial and under negotiation, with Palestinian and Arab leadership. The rest of the territory of the former Mandatory Palestine (including Jerusalem) which did not form part of the Palestinian state would continue to be part of Israel.[1]
The two-state solution is supported by many countries, as well as the Palestinian Authority.[2] Israel does not support the idea, although it has in the past.[3]
History
[change | change source]._Future_government_of_Palestine_Annex_A_Plan_of_Partition_with_Economic_Union.gif)
The first proposal for a separate Jewish and Arab state in Palestine was made by the Peel Commission report in 1937.[4] In 1947, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a partition plan for Palestine, dividing it into a Jewish state and Palestinian state, with Jerusalem under international control. Most Zionist groups accepted the plan, because they thought it was a first step towards expanding their territory, while the Arab Higher Committee, the Arab League, Arab leaders and independent Arab governments rejected it because Arabs made up a two-thirds majority in Palestine and owned most of the land, and said that dividing Palestine broke the principle of national self-determination in the UN charter.[5] This would lead to the 1948 Palestine war. After the war, the State of Israel was established on the land given to the Jewish state, as well as 60% of the land that was supposed to go to the Arab state. Israel also took control of West Jerusalem, which was supposed to be part of the international zone, and Jordan took control of East Jerusalem and the West Bank of the Jordan River, while Egypt occupied the Gaza Strip.
Nowadays, the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) has accepted the idea of two states since the 1982 Arab Summit, as long as there would be a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.[6] In 2017, Hamas updated their charter that accepts the idea of a Palestinian state with these borders, but without recognising Israel. East Jerusalem was annexed from Jordan and remains in Israel ever since, with Jerusalem as Israel's capital city.
At the moment, there is no two-state solution being negotiated between Israel and Palestine. The Palestinian Authority accepts the two-state solution, and Israel once accepted it, but now rejects it. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disagrees with the idea.[7][8][9] Former Israeli prime ministers Ehud Barak and Ehud Olmert in late 2023 expressed support for a two-state solution.[10] The State of Palestine claims the territories of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem but is currently occupied by Israel, which is illegal according to international law.
The biggest points of disagreement between Israelis and Palestinians are the borders between Israel and Palestine (although it is usually based on the Green Line) status of Jerusalem, the Israeli settlements and the right to return of Palestinian refugees.
References
[change | change source]- ↑ Benny Morris (2008). 1948: a history of the first Arab-Israeli war. Yale University Press. pp. 66, 67, 72. ISBN 9780300126969. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
p.66, at 1946 "The League demanded independence for Palestine as a "unitary" state, with an Arab majority and minority rights for the Jews." ; p.67, at 1947 "The League's Political Committee met in Sofar, Lebanon, on 16–19 September, and urged the Palestine Arabs to fight partition, which it called "aggression", "without mercy". The League promised them, in line with Bludan, assistance "in manpower, money and equipment" should the United Nations endorse partition." ; p. 72, at December 1947 "The League vowed, in very general language, "to try to stymie the partition plan and prevent the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine
- ↑ "Palestinian Authority ready to work with an Israeli government that backs two-state solution: PM Shtayyeh". CBC News. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ↑ Magid, Jacob (2024-07-18). "Knesset overwhelmingly passes motion rejecting Palestinian statehood, days before PM's US trip". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
- ↑ Morris, Benny (2009-04-28), "The History of One-State and Two-State Solutions", One State, Two States: Resolving the Israel/Palestine Conflict, Yale University Press, pp. 28–160, doi:10.2307/j.ctt1np7rh.7, ISBN 978-0-300-15604-1, retrieved 2024-06-28
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link) - ↑ Sabel, Robbie, ed. (2022), "The 1947 Partition Plan", International Law and the Arab-Israeli Conflict, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 93–101, doi:10.1017/9781108762670.006, ISBN 978-1-108-48684-2, retrieved 2023-10-31
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link) - ↑ Cite error: The named reference
CBC News-20242was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page). - ↑ Cite error: The named reference
Azulay-2015was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page). - ↑ "Palestinians furious over Netanyahu claims that Israel must 'crush' statehood ambitions". The Jerusalem Post. 2023-07-01. ISSN 0792-822X. Retrieved 2024-07-26.
- ↑ "Netanyahu's call to block creation of Palestinian state sparks fury, condemnation". Arab News. 2023-06-26. Retrieved 2024-07-26.
- ↑ Cortellessa, Eric (2023-11-06). "Former Israeli Prime Minister: Israel's Endgame in Gaza Should be a Palestinian State". TIME. Archived from the original on 2024-12-17. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
