A binational state? Here?
For a binational state to exist, it's not enough for the Jews to give up a Jewish state; the Arabs have to give up an Arab state in the Palestine that would exist after the abolition of the Zionist state.
By Alexander Yakobson Tags: Israel news Middle East peaceSince the division of the land into two viable states is no longer possible, there is no choice - for anyone who believes in equality - but to support a democratic binational state from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River, claims Meron Benvenisti (Haaretz, January 22).
In my opinion, exactly the opposite is true: Since it is clear that the state Benvenisti recommends instead of Israel will not be a binational democracy, anyone who believes in equality (as opposed to someone who believes in the need to surrender to Arab nationalism) must adhere to the principle of two states for two peoples. This solution is definitely possible if both sides really want it. Yes, the Palestinian side too, whose contribution to the present situation Benvenisti is careful to not examine.
The "one state" under discussion would be a state with a solid Arab-Muslim majority (which would quickly be created by taking advantage of the right of return) in the heart of the Arab-Muslim world. To believe that this state would really be binational you have to assume that the Arab-Palestinian people would agree, over the long haul, to be the only Arab people whose state would not have a clearly Arab character and would not be officially defined as an Arab state or as part of the Arab world.
One has to assume that Fatah and Hamas would agree to this concession - which no Arab people has made for the benefit of the region's indigenous minorities - for the benefit of the Zionist "foreign implant," whose very presence in the region is considered a colonialist invasion.
To understand how absurd this scenario is, there isn't even any need to ask tough questions about democracy and the attitude toward minorities in the Arab world and Palestinian society. It's enough to listen to the discourse of all the significant groups in Arab and Palestinian public opinion: Even those who declare their adherence to democracy swear allegiance to Arabism.
For a binational state to exist, it's not enough for the Jews to give up a Jewish state; the Arabs have to give up an Arab state in the Palestine that would exist after the abolition of the Zionist state. A binational state is a very rare form of government in the democratic world and is nonexistent in the Middle East. There is no reason to assume that this innovation would be introduced here for the benefit of the Zionists, of all people. And nothing written in this state's constitution would be of any use in the face of the true balance of power that would be created in and around this state. We have already seen all kinds of constitutions.
Nobody has yet suggested a reasonable, egalitarian and non-chauvinistic answer to the question of why the Jewish people's desire for national independence is less legitimate than other nations' aspirations for independence. But regardless of the ideological debate on this matter, the alternative to a Jewish state, as suggested by Benvenisti, is simply non-existent. Even someone who has no interest in Jewish nationalism or in any nationalism has to be aware (if one is honest with oneself) that under the current conditions, the continued existence of the State of Israel - with all its numerous shortcomings and tremendous advantages - is the way to guarantee maximum freedom and equality and the maximum well-being for the maximum number of people. We are not referring only to the good of the state's Jewish citizens. In effect, Benvenisti is suggesting that we do to all the Arabs in Israel something that horrifies the residents of Umm al-Fahm when it is suggested in regard to them: imposing Palestinian rule on them.
The claim that the settlements have made the occupation irreversible and that there is no escaping a binational state is based entirely on the assumption that a Jewish minority cannot exist in a Palestinian Arab state. After all, the Palestinians have no demographic problem - they are assured a large Arab majority in their state, even if the settlers, or at least some of them, remain under its sovereignty.
Why doesn't Benvenisti suggest such a solution? Apparently he does not have much confidence in the chances of honorable coexistence between an Arab majority and a Jewish minority in one state, although in the name of this ideal he suggests abolishing the State of Israel.
And indeed, there is good reason for skepticism on this issue, in view of the sad regional experience. But if there is any chance for such coexistence, it is conditional on a Jewish state existing alongside the site where this experiment would take place. And this Jewish state must be willing to absorb any Jew whose life on the outside becomes impossible (as happened to Jews all over the Arab world).
The solution is therefore a division into two states, based on the principle that a Jewish minority can exist in the Palestinian state - a principle that will do away with the landmine of the irreversibility of the occupation, which the settlement enterprise wanted to plant before both peoples.
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Agreed, a binational state is impossible. And a Palestinian state is out of the question. Thus the question is what is Israel going to do with the Palestinians?
Zionism means Jewish rule over the land of Isroiel FOREVER. The settlers are nothing if not Zionists. Will they pay taxes to a Palestinian government? Will their children be subject to being drafted into the Palestinian army? Will they submit to being arrested and jailed by Palestinian police? Can Palestine shut the border with Israel and forbid Jewish families from seeing each other for years (just as the Palestinians in Gaza and the WB have suffered)?
not even the swiss people are able to give their minorities fair rights (see the minarets). so i doubt that the arabs (who are not used to a democratic culture as the swiss people are) are able to do so. btw: as far as i've heard, israel was and is willing to get a two-states-for-two-peoples-solution. we didnt hear such a thing from abbas, up to now - not to mention hamas!
Yakobson has given us the bestreasnngagainst a binational stte and for a Jewish state. Moreover, he suggests leaving the settlers in Palestine under Palestinian authority. I don't know if that will work, but it's better than havingthem back here in Israel with the problems they will engender.
yakobson has convincing arguments. in a binational state soon there would be an arab majority due to demographic development. such this state wouldnt be a jewish state any longer. and such again the jews wouldnt have a homeland where they could live according to their faith and tradition. e. g. i dont know about any other state on this earth where shabbat is held officially. however, i know about a lot of states where e. g. muslim and christian holidays are official holidays. therefore a jewish state is a must.
non of those will work at least for a near few decades future . Binational does not have to be explained , everyone , who has a been of a brain knows that , at least understands what is behind that sinisizm . As a separate Pali state goes , they do not want it sincerely , just using that tactic to blackmail and profit without effort . Those entertained ideas are just pseudo intellectual self-stroking . Sure , this limbo condition is not good for anybody . But for now Palis must make hard choices or stay put . Israel is ready , except for a suicide , as she was for decade .
No place in Judea and Samaria is more than 30 min from the '48 armistice lines. Let the communities stay where they are with the residents continuing to live as Israeli citizens and merely come up with some minimal police force to ensure that both Arabs and Jews can continue to get to their homes at the end of the day in acceptable safety. It is an easy solution that doesn't take great courage or expense, but unlikely because the solution isn't the little bit of PA territory involved, but the entire resistance to any Jewish presence anywhere in the Land of Israel.
There is nothing "binational" to a democracy. Each true democracy encompasses many groups, be it ethnic, religeous or otherwise. In a one state solution is should not matter any more whether a groups has a majority. Everyone would feel citizen of one state. The problems you sketch would be just as large in a "jewish state". Long term no state can guarantee an ethnic/religeus majority other than through undemocratic means.
I think that for the majority of Israelis who are not settlers, the land of Israel (land in the west bank) is unimportant. The State of Israel as a Jewish state is important. So that is why for most Israelis, a binational state won't work. I think in theory it is a nice idea actually (everyone finding a way to coexist in the same land) but at least for now, most Israelis can't agree to this.
The response of Yacobson to the piece by Benvenisti is a classical case of polemic between left (who is in favor of a two-state solution and blames the settlers for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict) and extreme left (who is in favor of a binational solution and blames the settlers for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict). Many people in Israel (outside the brainwash mantra of Haaretz and its propagandists) believe that, first of all, the Palestinians must accept the Jewish state itself. If and when this happens, an acceptable solution will be found. Before this happens, Israel must concentrate its efforts on the ways (economical, political and military) to convince the Palestinians to choose the path of peaces. One of the ways to convince them is to continue the settlement activity.
....have to live with it, if you continue to vote governements into office, that are actively working against a 2-state solution. One can only wish you good luck (and fair minority rights)....
Jewish Settlers being given Palestinian passports, an interesting idea indeed. The problem is, the settlers didnt buy the land from the Palestinian private owners, which would mean immediate eviction by the PA from the majority of the land they now live on. Which is fair. Although the Israeli Government would never allow for that. Conflict is the habitual way of existence for the current leaders. Perhaps its more beneficial to them than peace would be - for whatever reasons New Leaders, New visions. ISRAEL STOP RECYCLING POLITIANS.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1144264.html This is the article we saw recently on Yerushalom's activities in the field of conciliation between Arabs and Jews that he sees in the context of one state. "Suddenly it all made sense to me - there is no actual problem of finding room in the physical territory; the problem is finding room in the heart." ... "Increasingly more voices are being heard among the settlers in favor of a binational state. In the very religious circles and in the political circles as well. The idea of a return to Zion is an idea of return to territory, to where it all began. Beit El, Shiloh, Hebron - they are the homeland. Therefore, the vision of two states is unsuited to the return to Zion. Between these two terrifying dreams, the left's terrifying dream of a binational state, and the right's terrifying dream of a Palestinian state, I am more panicked by a Palestinian state. I prefer a binational state." This is religious settlers talking.
Alexander Yakobson writes: "Nobody has yet suggested a reasonable, egalitarian and non-chauvinistic answer to the question of why the Jewish people's desire for national independence is less legitimate than other nations' aspirations for independence." It is not less legitimate by default. However, it is made less legitimate by denying those very same rights to another people - the Palestinians.
See South Africa. First KZs btw....