Two States Called Israel and Palestine

Riaz Osmani

30 May 2024

Regarding the Israeli and Palestinian conflict, we should all move away from absolutist positions. They will get us nowhere. What we all need to get behind is the dead process of the two state solution of Israel and Palestine, two separate and independent countries, living side by side in peace and security.

Right now, that seems like pie in the sky. But we nearly got there by the efforts of former American Presidents Bill Clinton and Barak Obama when they were in office. Unfortunately, both the Palestinian and Israeli delegations at those instances could not agree to the final status compromises. But this must be tried again.

And for that to happen, Israelis need to re-elect a leftwing government and Palestinians need to re-elect Fatah. Then willing and moderate delegates from both sides can sit around a table again, sponsored by the US, EU, Arab League etc. Extremists on both sides tried very hard in the past to make sure we never reached a two state solution. That cannot be allowed to happen again.