Title: "Israeli Proposals and the Future of the Conflict: Unraveling the One-State Scenarios"
In the latest edition of Qadaya Israeliya (Israeli Issues), Issue 85 delves into the multifaceted dimensions, implications, and projections of new Israeli propositions, particularly in the context of the ongoing debate over the future of Israel and the unresolved conflict. The issue unfolds against the backdrop of a prolonged state of occupation, continuous settlement activity, a blurring of the Green Line, and an increased presence of settlers in decision-making circles. The recent election of Naftali Bennett, former chair of the Settlement Council, as the head of the "change" government, alternating with Yair Lapid, further underscores the significance of the current political landscape.
The analysis within this issue unfolds over the past decade, observing a conviction among various civil society groups that Israel is not inclined towards a settlement based on international resolutions. Rather, there is a perception that Israel is moving towards altering facts on the ground, seeking to resolve the conflict by liquidating the question of Palestine and establishing its supremacy over Palestinians once and for all. The traditional two-state solution, often discussed in international discourse, appears absent from the Israeli agenda.
The conviction solidified after Prime Minister Netanyahu announced an annexation plan, taking advantage of a right-wing evangelical US administration. This plan aimed to crush the Palestinian dream of liberation, challenging Israel's claims of working towards peace while attributing the lack of progress to the absence of a Palestinian "partner." As the Green Line eroded steadily and settlements continued to interlink with central cities, there was a sense that Israel was achieving its goals and subjugating Palestinians, leading to a perceived transformation.
However, this situation has not gone unnoticed, as human rights organizations like B'Tselem, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International labeled Israel an apartheid state, calling for investigations into war crimes. There are growing concerns that the absence of a solution might lead to a "slide" into a one-state scenario, potentially bringing an end to Zionism and dismantling the current structure.
The focal point of this issue is a detailed report on one-state scenarios published by the Institute for National Security Studies. Researcher Abdul Qader Badawi reviews and summarizes these scenarios, with a presentation from Shaul Arieli, a co-author of the Geneva Accord. Arieli contends that the two-state option remains the perfect solution, debunking myths propagated by the right wing about its demise. This issue also explores other initiatives such as the Israeli-Palestinian Confederation, discussed by Amir Makhoul, and political approaches scrutinized by Walid Habbas, who emphasizes the importance of considering class economic dimensions. Meron Rapoport contributes by sharing his experience in devising the Two States, One Homeland initiative, offering an alternative perspective on resolving the conflict.
The issue provides a comprehensive examination of the evolving Israeli proposals, shedding light on the complex dynamics that shape the future of the conflict and exploring various potential scenarios, including the prospect of a one-state solution.
