Too Late for Two States?
When a level headed analyst such as Gershon Baskin, the CEO of the Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information publicly states that time may have run out on the two state solution, I’d say it’s time to pay attention. I strongly encourage you to read this recent piece in the Jerusalem Post, in which Baskin suggests that the unmitigated growth of settlements has already created a bi-national reality in the territories:
Perhaps it is already too late. Perhaps the events of Hebron, of the forced removal of the settlers from the building that they claim and the riots that broke out afterwards when they went on the rampage against Palestinians in Hebron demonstrates in the most bloody terms that these two communities might be too locked into a entanglement that is already beyond the possibility to untangle.
Baskin concludes with these sad and ominous words:
The end is in sight brought to us by the very hands that created the bi-national reality on the ground in the name of Zionism.
If you aren’t disturbed enough by now, click above to see the recent Hevron evacuation incident of which Baskin is referring. (And if you truly have the stomach for it, you can log into YouTube as an adult to view footage of the ensuing settler rampage – or “pogrom” to use Olmert’s term…)
Yes that makes sense. The less you get along with each other the more likely you”ll have to live in the same state. It’s quality thinking like that that will bring peace to the region.
fm-
that’s a little simplistic in the understanding of what is being said. I think what’s being said is that a negotiated two-state solution will take mutual respect and understanding; whereas “the facts on the ground” that have been established by active pursuit of “Judaicizing” certain non-Israeli territories prohibits such mutual recognition and respect, thereby making a true two-state solution that can live side-by-side in peace(the key to the two-state solution, in my opinion) even more difficult.
I think formermuslim’s simplification still rings true — it’s a call to start getting along, or else.
And I think it’s ripe with justice. Fail to separate and the Jews lose their state, same with the Palestinians. I mean, if they fail, it’s their own damn faults.
Since when is Gershon Baskin a level-headed analyst?
(Not that I disagree that it’s probably too late to save our country.)
“it’s a call to start getting along, or else. ”
Ehhh no. That’s not what I meant.
Look, I know muslims and I’m starting to learn about christians (just drop in on their private conversations on internetfora). How can you live together with people who believe a) that you’re the enemy of allah B) that you’re the spawn of satan?
formermuslim, if internet fora are your primary method of cultural investigation, no wonder you always surprise me with your generalizations.
I actually have a lot of trouble believing the two-state solution could be dead. Mostly because I think it’s not impossible to wrestle out the fanatical settlers and incentivize the reasonable ones via Knesset compensation bill.
Primary? No, I said that for your convenience. I personally have direct contact with muslim anti-semites. Some of my best friends are in fact anti-semites. Great upright human beings in every respect, except of course they all believe the Jews are cursed and are evil. They told me so themselves, since internet is so far the only medium where I admit to no longer being muslim, they don’t worry.
That’s why I told you to drop in on their private conversations. Internet or otherwise, you wouldn’t believe what people will say when they have the comfort of privacy. That, I am confident, applies to every christian or muslim friend you might have.
Back to topic. Yes, the two state solution is dead but it was preceded by the death of jewish-gentile coexistence. Draw your own conclusions.