Palestinian intellectuals and one state

Feb 25, 2009 Published under Uncategorized

Some Palestinian intellectuals understand a one state pursuit is not
feasible or advisable bc Israelis will never accept it and bc it
doesn’t even address the core Pal aspirations (ie refugee rights,
Palestinian national symbols/Statehood). Yet they nevertheless find it
useful to advocate it as a tactic to scare Israelis into moving
towards a two state solution.

But the danger with this tactic is twofold. First, Palestinian
citizens will be sold on this grand unachievable take-all vision,
feeding into absolutist impossibilites that people have been sold by
their pandering leadership (on both sides) for far too long. This is
precisely the opposite of what we need: to say to both sides what
needs to be said: peace will not come without necessary compromises.

Second, this plays straight into Israeli suspicions about Palestinian
intentions to reject Israel’s right to exist as the sole homeland of
the Jewish people.

Palestinians who still cling to this phased approach – and Israelis
who feel they can continue the occupation and ‘manage the conflict’ –
need to bear in mind the Gaza tragedy. So long as one side cannot live
with security and freedom, the other side will also face tragic
consequences.

Peace, security, freedom, respect and dignity CAN come to all, and
only to all, people in the region.

Sent from my iPhone – pardon typos
.

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