r/neoliberal Waluigi-poster Dec 11 '23

The two-state solution is still best Opinion article (non-US)

https://www.slowboring.com/p/the-two-state-solution-is-still-best

The rather ignored 2 state solution remains the best possible solution to the I/P crisis.

Let me know if you want the article content reposted here

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133

u/DougFordsGamblingAds Frederick Douglass Dec 11 '23 edited Dec 11 '23

I don't think this really gets into the meat of the issues with the 2 state solution.

  1. An independent Palestinian state would have an independent military. What happens when such a state starts importing Russian artillery? The article simply says that an independent Palestinian state would not be a military threat without backing it up.
    Oct 7th is what happened to the Israeli civilian population from a blockaded Hamas. Imagine what a fully armed/equipped force could do in a space this close.

  2. There is no resolution to the 'right to return', which I don't think the Palestinians are willing to give up.

  3. There is no resolution to Al-Aqsa Mosque/Temple Mount. If this is to be in a Palestinian states, would there be a guarantee that a Jew would be allowed to visit their most holy site? This would be crucial to getting religious Jews on board, but I don't think Palestinians would accept anything less than complete control and the ability to discriminate here based on religion.

The upshot is that as a nation, the Palestinians seem to prefer the current state of affairs rather than giving up on these three points. That makes the status-quo more of a solution than the 2 state solution.

71

u/michaelclas NATO Dec 11 '23

Israel has always demanded a de militarized Palestinian state. They would have some kind of a security force (like the modern Palestinian Authority Security Service) not a full blown military

13

u/TheFaithlessFaithful United Nations Dec 11 '23

Israel has offered a Palestine that doesn't have an army and doesn't control its own borders.

At that point, are they actually a country? When a foreign power prevents them from having an army and controls their borders and even has checkpoints between their enclaves?

42

u/MasterRazz Dec 11 '23

Is post-WW2 Japan a country?

The proposed situation is a little harsher than Japan's situation, but Japan also doesn't actively try to kill Americans so it's a wash.

15

u/TheFaithlessFaithful United Nations Dec 11 '23

Is post-WW2 Japan a country?

Japan has a "self defense force" which has military grade equipment. And Japan controls its own borders.

I think if Palestine had those two aspects it would be a lot more reasonable, but they get to have a police force and no control of their borders.

37

u/Mothcicle Thomas Paine Dec 11 '23

Japan has a "self defense force" which has military grade equipment. And Japan controls its own borders.

Both of these came about after years of demilitarization and Japan proving itself to not be seeking a revanche. Would Palestine be ready to accept similar years of proving?