Daring to think differently
Laila El-Haddad is an international journalist from Gaza. Her blog is an travelog, mostly of time spent trying to enter or leave Gaza. Recently she conducted an interview with Ali Abu Nimah, a Palestinian thinker.
Abu Nimah suggests that it is time to consider a different way - rather than the much trumpeted two-states of mutual hatred in Israel-Palestine, how about a one state bination, similar to Belgium? It sounds pretty crazy, yet it is something I have heard mentioned several times by Palestinians - a nation where all Israelis and Palestinians live alongside each other in peace, including any refugees and anyone else that wants to live in their ancestoral lands, in a non-religious secular state.
Of course, it is pretty obvious that the Israelis have a lot to lose - given their history of oppression, it isn't really very surprising that they want to live in a Jewish and Democratic State where the Jews always are in the majority because they feel oppressed almost everywhere else in the world. On the other hand, it is pretty obvious that the Palestinians are also giving up a lot to even contemplate this idea.
I don't know what the answer is. If the Jews could be guaranteed security in this state (how would you actually do that?) why would they not want it if it led to peace?
Abu Nimah suggests that it is time to consider a different way - rather than the much trumpeted two-states of mutual hatred in Israel-Palestine, how about a one state bination, similar to Belgium? It sounds pretty crazy, yet it is something I have heard mentioned several times by Palestinians - a nation where all Israelis and Palestinians live alongside each other in peace, including any refugees and anyone else that wants to live in their ancestoral lands, in a non-religious secular state.
Of course, it is pretty obvious that the Israelis have a lot to lose - given their history of oppression, it isn't really very surprising that they want to live in a Jewish and Democratic State where the Jews always are in the majority because they feel oppressed almost everywhere else in the world. On the other hand, it is pretty obvious that the Palestinians are also giving up a lot to even contemplate this idea.
I don't know what the answer is. If the Jews could be guaranteed security in this state (how would you actually do that?) why would they not want it if it led to peace?
Labels: israeli-palestine, one state solution
posted by Joe at 12:57 PM
1 Comments:
It is so hard to know what the answer is, Joe. I think the answer will only be found when both sides sit down and talk it through properly with no one shooting Palestinians or blowing up Israelis or demolishing houses etc. And I don't even know how that can be achieved.
Still, as long as there are people on both sides who try to encourage dialogue and break down barriers, not to mention people like the man you mention, there is hope, though, and hope is what everyone needs to keep going. - Just trying not to be too pessimistic.
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