{news} FWD Counterpunch: "A Two-State Solution is No Solution: Thinking Outside the Box on Israel "

[Justine McCabe]

>From CT Green Mazin Qumsiyeh.
Justine
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A Two-State Solution is No Solution: Thinking Outside the Box on Israel / 
Palestine
 By Mazin Qumsiyeh, Counterpunch 6/2/05
 http://www.counterpunch.org/mazin06022005.html
 http://www.qumsiyeh.org/thinkingoutsidethebox/
 
Thursday, June 2, 2005 -- In Washington, DC last week, Huwaida Arraf of the 
International Solidarity movement posed two questions for the Palestinian 
Authority (PA) Foreign Minister:
 
1)  Why is the PA not articulating the clear and continuing human rights 
violations by Israel; and
 
2)  Since Mahmud Abbas wants Palestinians to end armed resistance to Israeli 
colonization, why does his authority not show any visible participation or 
support for the Palestinian non-violence resistance?
 
His response was that he used to be president of an activist group and knows 
that activists may say a lot of things that leaders cannot and should not 
say.  He also said that everyone knows Palestinians engage in non-violent 
resistance, and obviously "we think it is good."
 
Then Phyllis Bennis asked why he stated that the PA "did not like Bush's 
written assurances to Sharon, but we choose to interpret them in light of 
International law."  She explained that this makes little sense considering 
that Sharon is proceeding based on these assurances to consolidate control 
in the occupied West Bank, that such assurances contravene international law 
and that the Bush administration has a history of violating international 
law.  He did not reply.
 
PA leaders are not in enviable positions.  They are required by an imbalance 
of power to fulfill the Bush and Sharon "visions" of security for the 
occupier, in return for positions of "leadership" over the captive 
Palestinians.  The PA leaders claim that Israeli settlement policies are 
destroying the "vision of a two state solution."  But outgoing Israeli Army 
Chief Yaalon said it well: "A two-state solution is not relevant ... it is a 
story that the Western world tells with Western eyes, and that story does 
not comprehend the scale of the gap and the scale of the problem.  We, too, 
are sweeping it under the carpet."
 
And why are the Palestinians fulfilling their obligations under an unfair 
road map even while Israel refuses to implement its obligations of a full 
settlement freeze?  As for two-states, there is already a state called 
Israel with discriminatory laws, with nuclear weapons, and with the 
fourth-strongest army in the world.  Zionism survives only insofar as
 it prevents Palestinians attaining their basic human rights, such as the 
right to return to their homes and lands, and the right to 
self-determination.  Zionism and Israeli law claim all Jews around the world 
are nationals of the state, and give them the "right" to automatic 
citizenship while denying Palestinian Christians and Muslims the right to
 return to their homes simply for being Gentiles.  Palestinians, by contrast, 
are in shrinking cantons on less than 10% of their historic lands.
 
Abbas is calling for resuming direct unconditional negotiations on final 
status issues, but how can there be unconditional "negotiations" between a 
superior military power backed by the only remaining military superpower and 
a captive population stripped of even the meager cards of armed resistance?
 
The Palestinian Authority does have other options.  It could choose to build 
its network with progressive organizations around the world.  It could build 
non-violent resistance (including civil disobedience, divestments and 
boycotts).  It could reject negotiations unless based on human rights and 
international law.  It could insist that all Palestinians are represented 
(including inside Palestine 48, and refugees).
 
PA leaders who put the welfare of their people before personal interest must 
start with The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  Zionism/colonialism 
and rejection of the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes 
and lands are incompatible with these basic human rights.  If the PA does 
not succeed in reversing colonial rule and instituting
 equality and justice, then the field will be left to Hamas or a third party 
(like the democratic initiative called Al-Mubadara).  But, like in South 
Africa, Israeli society is changing, and pressures from outside are 
building.  Israeli artists recently called for ending Israel's apartheid 
laws.  Many churches and universities are developing divestment and boycott 
campaigns.
 
The International Court ruling on the illegality of the apartheid wall built 
on Palestinian land is a victory for common sense.  US taxpayers who foot 
the bill with billions to fund Israel are now beginning to understand 
reality long shielded from them (but not the rest of the world) by a 
hegemonic media discourse.  With the Israeli lobby reeling from US
 espionage charges, and more Americans joining with the rest of the world in 
thinking outside the box of the fictional "two-state solution" (in which 
oppression and ethnic cleansing are legitimized), this may be is a time for 
a more rational US foreign policy.
 
Mazin Qumsiyeh, PhD (http://qumsiyeh.org)  is chair of The Association of 
One Democratic State in Palestine/Israel  and founder of 
AcademicsForJustice.org.
 
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