The 2-State Solution to the Palestinian Connflict

by Colin Dale (submitter)

Thu, Sep 21, 2006 7:54AM

This is the only viable 2-State solution to the Palestinian conflict with Israel

The sub-division of the virtually uninhabited 5000 sq miles of the Negev desert, south of Dimona, is the only practicable solution to forming an independent Palestinian State which is contiguous i.e. Palestinians will be able to travel between Gaza and the West Bank freely and without hindrance, within their own autonomous state. There is no Israeli town in this area - over 97% of Israelis live north of Beersheba.

The UN would need to provide finance to construct huge desalination plants to irrigate the land and this would be a major financial project that would require support from the international community. The costs would, however, be less than the current costs of supplying military aid to Israel.

This is a viable solution to the conflict and would entail the removal of all Israeli settlements within the new State i.e. the West Bank. The port of Eilat would remain a part of Israeli territory and would be accessible both from the Red Sea and by via rail link from the north.

Add Your Comments

§Co-Founder, Together for 2 States

by Mark Isaacs (legacyhms [at] aol.com)

Fri, Sep 22, 2006 2:54AM

I think we should be wary of any one solution proposed as the ONLY viable solution. This particular proposal is a non-starter, attempting to replace the existing territorial discontinuity of the West Bank and Gaza with an Israeli territorial discontinuity between the 'mainland' and a proposed Eilat zone. As far as I know, there are no Palestinian claims to the Negev, while the Israeli national story is wrapped up in Ben Gurion's love of the Negev. His home was there at Sde Boker. The proposed boundaries are also too tight around Dimona, the center of Israel's nuclear research. In short, this well-meaning proposal does not recognize the actual political and geographic realities.

The Palestinian territorial contiguity issue is not a big problem between the West Bank and Gaza. Most who have studied it have come to the conclusion that a transit corridor linking the 2 with Israeli overpasses and/ or underpasses are all that is needed to ensure Palestinian viability on this issue.

The Geneva Accord, which brought together Israelis and Palestinians in face-to-face negotiations presents a more likely scenario for the borders: a somewhat greater Jerusalem where the Israeli settlements closest to Jerusalem become part of Israel proper in exchange for land from Israel to Palestine that would be carved out south of Jerusalem.

Fundamentally, these borders, like all issues of the 2 state solution, need to be settled between Israelis and Palestinians in face-to-face negotiations.

For more information: http://Togetherfor2states.org

Add a Comment

§Making the Negev productive

by Angela Frost

Fri, Sep 22, 2006 3:07AM

Eilat is merely an expensive seaside resort for holidaymakers not a Israeli town of any significance. This proposal to make the Negev a fertile, productive area after a half a century of neglect, has real resonance!

Add a Comment

§Empty Land in the Negev

by Mel Pimenta

Fri, Sep 22, 2006 4:06AM

If Israel has nearly a half of its land area 'empty' then why has she taken Palestinian land on the West Bank? It sounds extraordinary to me that no Israelis want to live in the Negev south of Bersheva and yet deny the Palestinians that right with the result that there are millions forced into Israeli controlled bantustans with restricted or closed border crossings, air space, sea access and water supplies. Why doesn't the UN do something? Or the EU? Or somebody?

Add a Comment

Support Independent Media

We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!