Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., August 23, 2008 Av 22, 5768 | | Israel Time: 17:24 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 09:41 21/08/2008 Moot argument By Meron Benvenisti Tags: Palestinians, Israel It?s hard to tell whether the reports that more and more Palestinians are now leaning toward a one-state solution are genuinely due to an increase in supporters of the idea, or to Israeli sensitivity. The binational bogeyman is so off-putting to Israelis that any Palestinian expression on the issue gives rise to speculation and conspiracy theories. Former Palestinian Authority prime minister Ahmed Qureia ?(Abu Ala?) is aware of this sensitivity, and exploits it every time he hits a bump in the negotiations: "If Israel continues to put up opposition, we will demand a single state for two peoples," he said recently. Indeed, the Palestinians use the slogan "One State" to threaten Israel, and they know full well how effective that threat is. So great is the fear that the Palestinians are planning to exchange their struggle for national independence for a demand for citizenship rights in a binational state, that the very mention of this option is seen as proof of their unwillingness to reach peace. The Palestinian demand for Israel to annex the territories and extend citizenship rights to their inhabitants is considered more of a threat to Israel than the demand for an independent state, since civil equality is a universal norm and the demand for its implementation would win sweeping support in the West. And woe to the Israeli who dares to champion binationalism; he is denounced as a traitor wracked with self-hatred. The Israeli public debate over binationalism versus a partition into two states is conducted on the theoretical, ideological and philosophical level, and in effect is put forth only as a threat to the accepted and desirable solution of partition. But that debate, which always resurfaces when frustration with the peace process intensifies, never manages to turn into a real discussion of the two alternatives and instead remains a provocative academic topic. This is not only because the binational option is viewed by most Israelis as spelling the destruction of their state, and by most Palestinians as the end of their national liberation movement. Mainly, it is because the debate over the two alternatives is a moot argument, the sole value of which is in its very existence, and whose purpose is to obscure the robust and durable nature of the status quo. Advertisement A status quo is preserved as long as the forces wishing to preserve it are stronger than those wishing to undermine it, and that is the situation today in Israel/Palestine. After more than 40 years, the Israeli governing system known as "the occupation," which ensures full control over every agent or process that jeopardizes the Jewish community?s total domination and the political and material advantage that it accumulates, has become steadily more sophisticated through trial and error - without planning, but in response to the genetic code of settler society. This status quo, which appears to be chaotic and unstable, is much sturdier than the conventional description of the situation as a temporary ?military occupation? would indicate. The tensions and internecine confrontations that prevail in the area under Israeli control are so acute - and the power gap between the Jewish and the Arab communities so decisive - that there is no way to deal with these tensions except by means of military might. Usually the emphasis is on the political and civil inequality and the denial of collective rights that the model of division - or, alternatively, inclusion in a binational government - is supposed to solve. But the greater, and more dangerous, inequality is the economic kind that is characteristic of the current situation and will not be reversed by either alternative: the dramatic gap in gross domestic product per capita between Palestinians and Israelis, which is 1:10 in the West Bank and and 1:20 in the Gaza Strip, as well as the enormous inequality in the use of natural resources ?(land, water?). This gap cannot exist without the force of arms provided so effectively by the defense establishment, and even most of those who oppose the ?occupation? are unwilling to let go of it, since that would impinge on their welfare. This explosive status quo survives due to the combination of several factors: fragmentation of the Palestinian community and incitement of the remaining fragments against each other; enlistment of the Jewish community into support for the occupation regime, which is perceived as protecting its very existence; funding of the status quo by the ?donor nations,? which cause corruption among the Palestinian leadership; persuasion of the neighboring states to give priority to bilateral and global interests over Arab ethnic solidarity; success of the propaganda campaign known as ?negotiations with the Palestinians,? which convinces many that the status quo is temporary and thus they can continue to amuse themselves with theoretical alternatives to ?the final-status arrangement;? the silencing of all criticism as an expression of hatred and anti-Semitism; and psychological repugnance toward the conclusion that the status quo is durable and will not be easily changed. It?s not nice to admit, and it is a sad forecast, but without accepting this conclusion and learning our lesson from it, change will not be possible Bookmark to del.icio.us   Tears of joy Shahar Zubari's bronze medal was Israel's first of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. 'Germ of corruption' Mahmoud Ahmadinejad repeats his prediction that Israel will be wiped off the map.   1.   So what does Benvenisti suggest....? 10:01  |  Esther 21/08/08   2.   Superb article: Apartheid Settler Enterprise preferred over PEACE 10:03  |  Ivar 21/08/08   3.   One-state solution is being de facto implemented 10:09  |  Khalid Amayreh 21/08/08   4.   The Settlers have WON - the ONLY 10:12  |  spyguy 21/08/08   5.   Takes a simple idea and makes it obscure and remote 10:12  |  Natallie Durson 21/08/08   6.   Why 14,000 new settlers a year if Israel wants two states? 10:14  |  Don`t Ignore Stuff 21/08/08   7.   right!! but who to blame? 10:18  |  abraham 21/08/08   8.   one state and Binational are not one in the same 10:29  |  David G 21/08/08   9.   Israelis should not fear one state I 10:41  |  David G 21/08/08   10.   Israelis should not fear one state II 10:44  |  David G 21/08/08   11.   Excellent article 10:46  |  Nick Ferriman 21/08/08   12.   SOME STUFF FOR "DON`T IGNORE STUFF" NOT TO IGNORE 10:54  |  Brant 21/08/08   13.   Why is ethnic purity necessary for Palestine 11:04  |  Slibovitz 21/08/08   14.   Marwan Barghouti for president of Israel 12:04  |  Marko Rauhamaa 21/08/08   15.   Put a time limit on "Peace Process". 12:07  |  Keith T. 21/08/08   16.   40 Years of Debating the Occupation is Enough 12:29  |  Palestinian in UK 21/08/08   17.   Wonderfully OT, Brant 12:37  |  Murray 21/08/08   18.   David G is right - no reason to fear it 13:12  |  SD 21/08/08   19.   What does Israeli side suggest as a SOLUTION? 13:42  |  Shadi 21/08/08   20.   Response to Khalid Amayreh 13:51  |  Neshri 21/08/08   21.   Marko Rauhamaa France and Germany are not one state. 14:38  |  PETER SM 21/08/08   22.   Come together? 14:53  |  christoph 21/08/08   23.   Ivar the Saudi plan is a paint job not a construction project 15:05  |  zionist forever 21/08/08   24.   why than the increased settlementactivity? 15:06  |  rm 21/08/08   25.   No more shacking up, get married 15:11  |  W 21/08/08   26.   14 15:25  |  zionist forever 21/08/08   27.   One + Two = Apartheid 15:29  |  Montrealer 21/08/08   28.   One State? 15:45  |  anna 21/08/08   29.   christoph 22 they`re alot closer than you think 15:50  |  SD 21/08/08   30.   From this week`s Torah portion 16:39  |  Afikoman 21/08/08   31.   Israel to be Lebanon 16:42  |  Gimpel the Fool 21/08/08   32.   Transfer will happen first 16:56  |  Lynn 21/08/08   33.   Lynn dreams of "transfer" 17:36  |  Ibrahim 21/08/08   34.   Gimple is the FOOL. 17:40  |  Ibrahim 21/08/08   35.   Having 1 state or 2 states makes no difference to Arabs... 17:42  |  bat yam 21/08/08   36.   There is no need for an Israel in the 21st century 17:44  |  Dutch 21/08/08   37.   34 Poor dutch & reality. 17:57  |  curious 21/08/08   38.   Zionist Forever....JordanIsPalestine? 17:59  |  Ibrahim 21/08/08   39.   SHEETIIETSSHH..ISRAELIS 18:04  |  indrajaya 21/08/08   40.   The single state is extermination of Jews in land Israel 18:15  |  Just cause 21/08/08   41.   38 18:28  |  zionist forever 21/08/08   42.   # 33 Ibrahim.....I hope you realize this is a 18:35  |  Lynn 21/08/08   43.   Indrajaya-insubstantial 18:38  |  Afikoman 21/08/08   44.   Even under the most ideal of conditions the West Bank and the... 19:04  |  Nadav 21/08/08   45.   Palestinian state would be disaster at this time 19:33  |  Voice of Reason 21/08/08   46.   Just Say No 19:41  |  Ron 21/08/08   47.   One/two states 19:46  |  Anthony 21/08/08   48.   The Down hill momentum towards a BINATIONAL State 20:03  |  Avistein 21/08/08   49.   A Binational Israeli State, that what President Yasser Arrafat 20:13  |  Sandy 21/08/08   50.   inevitable end 20:25  |  FalluJah 21/08/08   51.   Zionist Forever....can you clarify 20:26  |  Ibrahim 21/08/08   52.   Lynn #42 Good to know. 20:33  |  Ibrahim 21/08/08   53.   Rename zionism 20:34  |  Jamie 21/08/08   54.   More regarding the Jordanian-Egyptian option for peace: 20:42  |  Nadav 21/08/08   55.   Missing the point 20:51  |  Michael N 21/08/08   56.   Hi, Nadav. Welcome back! I like your ideas very much. Thanks. 20:51  |  Abe 21/08/08   57.   ONE STATE: ISRAEL 20:52  |  Yishai Kohen 21/08/08   58.   ZIONIST FOREVER 20:57  |  shoshanna 21/08/08   59.   Viability is not moot 21:11  |  ZISD 21/08/08   60.   #54 Nadav still dreaming Jordan is not interested Nadav 21:12  |  Labhras 21/08/08   61.   Shoshanna, I suggest you do your homework with regard to the 21:16  |  Nahum 21/08/08   62.   The one state solution was tried. Very important read 21:21  |  Ken Jurist 21/08/08   63.   One State / One World / One Dream 21:24  |  ZISD 21/08/08   64.   `Palestinians` and self transfer 21:40  |  Jess Ghannam 21/08/08   65.   Equality?! Gasp!! .. No Way 21:47  |  JA 21/08/08   66.   Good enough for South Africa, Good Enough for Israel 21:49  |  Lee Kaplan 21/08/08   67.   3. Khalid Amaryeh, with due respect, the one state solution is a 21:55  |  lakshmi 21/08/08   68.   Thanks, SD 22:00  |  christoph 21/08/08   69.   58 22:06  |  zionist forever 21/08/08   70.   It`s fear is from the left like benevenisti