The Story So Far
Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Israel's ongoing war in Gaza has resulted in significant destruction and approximately 36,000 deaths in Gaza.
The conflict has renewed international focus on the Palestine question.
Increased global support for a future Palestinian state.
Spain, Ireland, and Norway recently recognized the Palestinian state.
Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia and Jordan, emphasize that lasting peace in the region requires resolving the Palestine issue.
Two-State Solution:
An internationally recognized solution involves creating an Arab state and a Jewish state from historical Palestine.
Divide the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea into an Arab state and a Jewish state.
Israel was established in 1948, but a Palestinian state has not yet been realized.
Palestinian territories have been under Israeli occupation since 1967.
The two-state solution today means establishing a sovereign Palestinian state with full rights under the UN Charter.
Origins of the Two-State Solution
Peel Commission (1936): Proposed partition of Palestine into Jewish and Arab states.
Arabs rejected the proposal.
UNSCOP Plan (1947): Proposed division into a Jewish state, an Arab state, and an international territory (Jerusalem).
Jews accepted, Arabs rejected the plan.
Zionists declared the state of Israel in 1948, leading to the first Arab-Israeli war.
Post-War Developments:
Israel expanded its territory by 22% beyond the UN proposal by 1949.
Israel captured additional territories in 1967 Six-Day War: West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula, Golan Heights.
Only Sinai was returned to Egypt after the 1978 Camp David Accords.
Palestinian Nationalism:
Strengthened in the 1960s under the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
PLO shifted from demanding all of Palestine to accepting a two-state solution based on 1967 borders.
Peace Processes:
Camp David Accords (1978): Framework for Middle East peace, including establishing Palestinian autonomy.
Oslo Accords (1993 and 1995): Formalized the two-state solution, established the Palestinian National Authority.
Hurdles to Achieving the Two-State Solution
Assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995.
Rise of right-wing Likud party under Benjamin Netanyahu.
Opposition from Hamas to the Oslo Accords.
Israel lacks a clearly demarcated border and is considered expansionist.
Continued construction of illegal Jewish settlements in Palestinian territories.
Approximately 700,000 Jewish settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Political challenges in relocating settlers.
Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as their capital.
Israel claims all of Jerusalem as its eternal capital.
Around 700,000 Palestinians displaced in 1948.
Israel rejects the return of Palestinian refugees.
Current Stance and Challenges
Right-wing leadership shows no willingness to make concessions.
Preference for maintaining the status quo of occupation.
Palestinian Perspective:
Desire to break the status quo and achieve sovereignty.
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