Israel and Palestine: One or Two State Sollution


Figure 1.--

The debate over Israel is essentially a debate over one or two state sollution. The Isrealis favor a two-state sollution because in a one state sollution, Jews would inevitably become a minority in an Arab/Muslim majority state. That is not to say that Isrealis want a theoracy based on Judiaism. Isreal is a secular state, based on secular laws. Perhaps even more important is that throughout the Muslim worls, including Palestime, there is a consistent failure to understand and protect minority rights. There was once a very sunstantial Christaian Arab population on the Wesrt Bank, under Palestinian rule, that community is rapidly disappearing. In sharp contrast, there is considerable legal protection for Muslim Palestinians which represent about 15 percent of Israel's population. The population is not only growing, but it is the most affluent Arab population in the Middle East, with the exception of the oil states. Compare this to the situation for Jews, Christiasns, and non-Majority sect Muslims in other Middle Eastern countries. It is also in sharp contrast to the constitution of the suposedly moderate Palestianian Authority, let alone Hamas in Gaza. Thus it is instructive to look at the one-state constitutions that Palestinians and other Middle Eastern countries are demanding that Israel accept as part of a one state sollution.

Democracy

A democracy is a form of goverment in which the majority rules through free elections. An impportant aspect of a democratic republic like America, France, Germany, and Italy or constitutional monarchies like Britain or limits on the majority through the rule of law. Those limits are best expressed in the American bill of rights, the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. At this point in time, few Middle Eastern countries have free elections, let alone legal protections for minority rule. And outside of the law, many in the Middle East are energized to pursue extra-legal acts of viloence against those of different persuasions. And the Koran is widely used to justify acts of violence. Notably for the Jews in Israel, throughout the Muslim world, including Palestine, there is a consistent failure to understand and protrect minority rights.

One or Two State Sollutions

The debate over Israel is essentially a debate over one or two state sollution. The Isrealis favor a two-state sollution because in a one state sollution, Jews would inevitably become a minority in an Arab/Muslim majority state.

Islamic Theocracy

Islam is commonly presented as a religion. It certainly is a religion, but it is much more. The Koran is percription for establishing a theocracy. We see that in Iran and Tailiban Afghanistan. There are stron strains in other Muslim-majority states like the Sudan. Other Muslim-majority states are an accomodation between Islamic theocracy and and secular government with a variety of mixtures. In our modern world, the only theocratic states are in the Muslim world.

Israel

Israel is a majority Jewish state. It is not, however, that Isreal is a theoracy based on Judiaism. Isreal is a secular state, based on secular laws. Many Isrealis are ethnic Jews who do not practice Judism. The Zionist movement itself was a secular, not a religious movemrnt. This is possible among Jews. It is much more difficult for Muslims as Islam is more than a religion, but is a political-religious mixture. There is considerable legal protection for Muslim Palestinians which represent about 15 percent of Israel's population. The population is not only growing, but it uis the most affluent Arab population in the Middle East, with the exception of the oil states. Compare this to the situation for Jews, Christiasns, and non-Majority sect Muslims in other Middle Eastern countries. It is also in sharp contrast to the constitution of the suposedly moderate Palestianian Authority, let alone Hamas in Gaza. Thus it is instructive to look at the one-state constitutions that Palestinians and other Middle Eastern countries are demanding that Israel accept as part of a one state sollution.

Palestine

There was once a very sunstantial Christaian Arab population on the Wesrt Bank, under Palestinian rule, that community is rapidly disappearing. The draft Palestinian Constitution states, " Article (2) Palestine is part of the Arab nation. Article (5) Arabic and Islam are the official Palestinian language and religion. Article (7) The principles of Islamic Shari’a are a major source for legislation." Tgere is nothing comparable to this in the highly secular Isreali constitution.

Muslim-Majority States

Almost every Arab state as well as Iran and Pakistan have constitutions which recognize Islam as the state religion..

Egypt

President Mubarak referring to the 2010 Isreali-Palestinian peace talks, advised the Isrealis, "I say to Israeli citizens, including Jews, Muslims and others, that there is no such thing as a state in which all the citizens are Jews. In Egypt, we have Muslims, Christians and Jews and there is no problem. When they wanted to establish a Muslim state in Kosovo, the world came out against it because it did not want a Muslim state in central Europe.” His remarks are stunning. We are not sure who are the 'they' he is referring to. The actual fact is that the majority Christian West (Primarily America and Britain) used military force to protect Muslim Kosovars. But even more importantly, President Mubarak does not seem to have read the country's constitution. The Egyptian constitution proudly states: "Art. 1: The Arab Republic of Egypt is a Socialist Democratic State based on the alliance of the working forces of the people. The Egyptian people are part of the Arab Nation and work for the realization of its comprehensive unity. Art.2 : Islam is the Religion of the State. Arabic is its official language, and the principal source of legislation is Islamic Jurisprudence [Sharia]." Thus in Egypt, Islam is the established state religion, and Egyptians are part of the Arab nation (umma). Every citizen of Egypt, including Christian Copts and any Jew who somewhow managed to remain in Egypt. They are all according to the Egyptian Constitution subject to Islamic jurisprudence ( Sha’ria) and is declared by law to be an Arab! The President does not mention that the Egyptian Government after the 1967 Six Day War arrested all adult male Jews and after beating them up, seized their property and expelled them and their families. President Mubarak does not explain why Isrealis should not expect the same under the single-state sollution he advovates.

Iran


Jordan

Jordan was created by the First Partition of British Palestine. As part of the Jordanian Constitution, Jew are prohibitedcfrom living in the country.

Turkey


A Jewish People


Apartheid

Apartheid is the system of racial separation established by the White minority in South Africa. In recent years the Palestinians and their Arab and Iranian allies have taken to calling Israel an Apartheid state. Is this accurate. The charge gets a lot of play in the left-wing and main=stream media. Is the charge true. Here we think it is useful to take a look at South African Apartheid and compare it to Israel as well as Palestinian and Arab countries. We have compiled some basic information, but this is a complicated question abnd we welcome reader comment, especially facts about South, Africa, Israel and the Arabs.







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Created: 7:39 PM 9/20/2010
Last updated: 7:39 PM 9/20/2010