Israel’s One-State Reality
JVL Introduction
The most surprising thing about this article is where it appeared – the prestigious US journal Foreign Affairs, which describes itself, probably correctly, as “the leading magazine for in-depth analysis and debate of foreign policy, geopolitics and international affairs”.
Thie really does represent a seismic shift in the ideas that are now being allowed to enter the arena of legitimate debate in leading policy circles today.
To talk of one state was, until relatively recently, to invite accusations of being antisemitic. How times change!
Readers will not be surprised by the argument, but it is clearly and cogently expressed, summed up well in one of the sub-heads which reads simply From unsayable to undeniable.
It should have long-term consequences for US policy in the region, which needs urgently to stop shielding Israel, exert displomatic pressure, and give support to civil society organisations, in Israel, Palestine and internationally, that stand for human rights and international law, and offer nonviolent visions of popular resistance.
This article was originally published by Foreign Affairs on Fri 14 Apr 2023. Read the original here.
Israel’s One-State Reality
It’s Time to Give Up on the Two-State Solution
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It would appear that Biden supports the idea of one united fully democratic Ireland, but thinks that a divided, two State solution for the Holy Land is acceptable. Hypocrisy at the heart of the USA.
NAKBAH 1948………the beginning of state sponsored social and ethnic cleansing; that state being USA. Israel is an independent state in name only as in reality it has always been totally dependent on US eonomic; financial and especially military aid from its umbilical mother. The right of return for those Palestinians dispossessed since 1948 can never be ignored and the one-state solution, in which Arab and Jew can live together in Peace and Harmony and Equality can be the only solution that will prevent perpetual conflict between two states. Apartheid is now enshrined in Israeli Law.
The land is Palestine, the Holy Land; and the indigenous population is ethnically Semite, but the piper who calls the tunes is in Washington.
Anything which begins to break down the bipartisan support in the U.S. for Israel’s on-going settler colonialism, has to be welcomed. It completely alters the parameters and opens up new vistas of hope for a one-state, secular, democratic future for all the peoples of Palestine and beyond, including the UK and EU. An important article.
It’s an interesting article indeed. In your introduction you say “To talk of one state was, until relatively recently, to invite accusations of being antisemitic.”
I would add ‘or Zionist’. Because a large part of the Zionist movement has always wanted one Greater Israel, with the minimum “Arabs”. A picture is worth a thousand words, but as I can’t post one here, consider the proposal of the Zionist Organisation to the Paris peace conference of 1919 (taken from Wikipedia’s article ‘Mandate for Palestine’) which “declared the Zionists’ proposed borders and resources “essential for the necessary economic foundation of the country” including “the control of its rivers and their headwaters”. These borders included present day Israel and the Israeli-occupied territories, western Jordan, southwestern Syria and southern Lebanon “in the vicinity south of Sidon”. Neither Palestinians nor any other Arabs were involved in the discussions which determined the boundaries of Mandatory Palestine.”
That was the mainstream movement led by Weizmann. The Revisionists, led by Jabotinsky, wanted all of Jordan. This was inherited by Likud/Beitar and is still desired today by Israeli ministers such as Smotrich.
The only game in town is a 2 state solution even though the perception of this slogan is different to all sides. However it’s the only framework where both Israelis and Palestinians can get begrudging (bare) majority support for something. Arafat had the opportunity but squandered it – couldn’t bring himself to sign “end of conflict” and chose terrorism over peace. That lesson was absorbed well by Israel where security is still the main concern; a one-state solution, however it’s designed, could never bring security to Jews so forget it and remember rather “Never Again” (tomorrow night is Yom Hashoah).
It took a long while for Western states to ditch their tacit support and close working relationships with apartheid South Africa. Boycotts of South African goods, inspired and radical protests (eg Peter Hain’s at Lords cricket grounds) helped the process, as did the faith groups (the Anglican Church at the forefront, I think) and the activism of internationally famous South African writers, politicians and prisoners.
It seems to me that we’re only at the beginning stages of tackling apartheid Israel and of changing the balance of power between the Israeli state and the Palestinians Any progress obtained will be extremely slow.
There are strong arguments, it seems to me, for boycotting ALL Israeli goods and exports (as an Individual, I’ve done this for years) while doing what is possible to buy only properly authenticated Palestinian goods (on a “support the victim” basis).
There are occasional opportunities for relevant political protest in the UK. There will be a non-violent attempt lasting the whole of May in Leicester to stop a local company supplying “security” drones to the Israeli government. I’d expect this protest to attract some discussion of the issues in our regional as well as national media (though much of it won’t be favourable).
My first reaction is that this article marks a turning point in the history of Israel and the way it is seen in the west. Over the coming months and years I suspect we will return many times to examine the arguments and ideas set out here with such force .
Groundbreaking is a much over-used cliche. In this case it is accurate. Thank you.
After a really interesting read, like Linda’s point about S Africa, I agree and remember the debates and campaigns against its Government, eventually public opinion started having an effect and Governments came together put sanctions in place, including stopping their sports men and women from competing on the World Stage, that had a big influence on the White public and I’m positive it put pressure on the politicians.
This should be part of everyone’s campaigning tactics to push for BDS and an International Sports ban against Israel.