Binary thinking has trapped us in a paradigm of Israeli-Palestinian separation rather than cooperation says A Land For All, a joint effort at rethinking the "two-state solution."
One land for all is a stretch for many reasons, but they all have to get past the demographic realities first. A fully democratic Israel can’t satisfy the secular pillar of Zionism--that there be a sovereign state that is under independent Jewish control and capable of preventing another Holocaust. The religious, “law of our people since Moses” pillar stands in the way, as well. If birth rates of Israeli and Palestinian families do not converge, it is foreseeable that the Israeli vote might not reliably constitute a majority able maintain autonomy. If a stable secular society in which the unresolved 1948 claims of the Palestinian people are settled and an unshakable consensus to preserve that society is agreed to exist. Where that leaves competing religious claims to holy real estate is an imponderable.
On paper it's a great idea. Frankly, Micah the actual possibility of anything near this seems many many years away at best. I don't see how any of this can be even approached if two million Pals in Gaza are forced into the Sinai or confined in the rubble and salted earth. I am willing to be very wrong on this but that's what it looks like to me. I am no expert so I would be delighted to be less pessimistic. I do think the point about the 2m Pals living inside Israel is extremely important and generally ignored by almost all observers AND reporters.
You are not the only one who has shifted to delving into Israel/Palestine. It was so much easier not to think about it, a luxury for North Americans. Thanks for your attempts. We need more, not less.
I’m finding your posts since Oct 7 necessary for my understanding of ethnic+religious conflict and how cooperative living among differences can happen without walls and with mutual security prioritized. This point of view I find rare or absent in public discourse. So please yes, continue if you prefer, and thank you.
Per your last question in the piece — I really hope you keep writing about this topic, because your posts have been a constant source of much-needed clarity and context that's willing to engage with the complexity of the moment. Really appreciate your writing!
You write from your heart with a unique talent Micah so I would not want to tell you what to write. I'm not versed at all in the Israel Palestine conflict or situation so it's interesting to read someone with knowledge. Luckily there are others who write about this as well.
The combination of online technologies and political activism however needs your kind of voice. There are of course many who write about these issues but you bring up the progressive view and combine it with web ideas like no one 🤩 and you connect us with pretty unknown writers which is invaluable. Also, seeing the net and physical society as a whole is unusual but crucial. So I really hope you continue exploring the online world.
One land for all is a stretch for many reasons, but they all have to get past the demographic realities first. A fully democratic Israel can’t satisfy the secular pillar of Zionism--that there be a sovereign state that is under independent Jewish control and capable of preventing another Holocaust. The religious, “law of our people since Moses” pillar stands in the way, as well. If birth rates of Israeli and Palestinian families do not converge, it is foreseeable that the Israeli vote might not reliably constitute a majority able maintain autonomy. If a stable secular society in which the unresolved 1948 claims of the Palestinian people are settled and an unshakable consensus to preserve that society is agreed to exist. Where that leaves competing religious claims to holy real estate is an imponderable.
On paper it's a great idea. Frankly, Micah the actual possibility of anything near this seems many many years away at best. I don't see how any of this can be even approached if two million Pals in Gaza are forced into the Sinai or confined in the rubble and salted earth. I am willing to be very wrong on this but that's what it looks like to me. I am no expert so I would be delighted to be less pessimistic. I do think the point about the 2m Pals living inside Israel is extremely important and generally ignored by almost all observers AND reporters.
You are not the only one who has shifted to delving into Israel/Palestine. It was so much easier not to think about it, a luxury for North Americans. Thanks for your attempts. We need more, not less.
Keep going! You are one of the most sane, balanced thinkers on the topic. If anything, we need more!
I’m finding your posts since Oct 7 necessary for my understanding of ethnic+religious conflict and how cooperative living among differences can happen without walls and with mutual security prioritized. This point of view I find rare or absent in public discourse. So please yes, continue if you prefer, and thank you.
Per your last question in the piece — I really hope you keep writing about this topic, because your posts have been a constant source of much-needed clarity and context that's willing to engage with the complexity of the moment. Really appreciate your writing!
You write from your heart with a unique talent Micah so I would not want to tell you what to write. I'm not versed at all in the Israel Palestine conflict or situation so it's interesting to read someone with knowledge. Luckily there are others who write about this as well.
The combination of online technologies and political activism however needs your kind of voice. There are of course many who write about these issues but you bring up the progressive view and combine it with web ideas like no one 🤩 and you connect us with pretty unknown writers which is invaluable. Also, seeing the net and physical society as a whole is unusual but crucial. So I really hope you continue exploring the online world.
Best regards
Rikard Linde, Stockholm, Sweden