Ashley Bennerson
September 3, 2009
1:45 p.m.
For many years, it has been understood that historic Palestine must be divided between Jews and Palestinians. Israel has forced the problem by settling roughly 500,000 Jews in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, eliminating the land base for a Palestinian state. A de facto one-state has emerged with Israel ruling virtually all of the former Palestine; only Jews enjoy full rights in the unitary political system. West Bank Palestinians can’t drive on roads built for Israeli settlers, and Palestinians in Gaza watch as their children's limited educational opportunities and increase poverty.
In order for Israelis and Palestinians to live in a one-state reality an emphasis needs to be places on principles of equal rights rather than ethnic privilege. Israel and Palestine should have a secular, bilingual government as well as constitutional guarantees of equality and protection of minorities. Marriage of people from different ethnic or religious groups should be permitted and citizens should be free to reside in any part of the country.
Israeli perspectives are already beginning to shift, surprisingly by a influential people. Former defense minister Moshe Arens recently suggested in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz that Israel annex the West Bank and offer its residents citizenship. Knesset speaker Reuven Rivlin and Likud parliamentarian Tzipi Hotovely also supports citizenship for West Bank Palestinians.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/02/AR2010090204665.html
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