March 1, 2007
Thinking Clearly, Issue 40 / May 2001
Unfortunately, the Palestinian goal of self-determination as a separate state, or the idea of ejecting the 4.5 million Jews from Palestine, is as unworkable as Israel’s belief in the two-state solution. It too ignores the reality on the ground: Arab and Jew are inextricably mixed throughout Palestine, living in the same streets, towns and cities and relying on each other in many different ways. How can you separate them? It is time to stop trying and see whether a better solution would be to work towards letting both peoples live together as fairly and peacefully as possible, within the same state. For what exists now is the worst of all possible solutions; a bitter and bloody battle between two people that is sowing a harvest of hate and violence, that will be reaped by the generations to come, dehumanising the participants and corrupting the moral and ethical codes that their two societies are based upon. That which exists now is an impasse of tragic proportions; Zionists will not give up their idea of a state exclusively for Jews, and despite the Oslo accord, all Palestinians dream of the same thing for themselves.
The only conclusion that can be drawn from this mess, is, that what has been proposed in the past by both sides as solutions to a seemingly intractable problem, will not work. A better way has to be found to solve the problem of two peoples in one land. There is no other way. What must happen is both sides must face up to reality, and start to speak about sharing the land that both hold dear, and create a truly democratic system with equal rights for every citizen.
There can be no reconciliation until both sides accept the idea of a secular state that can accommodate both communities. Such a system will not diminish Palestinian aspirations and political existence nor will it diminish Jewish life. What is would encompass is self-determination for both peoples. This does not mean special status for one at the expense of the other. It would give, in some form or other, the right of return to both Palestinians and Jews. It would have an independent judiciary that would protect all, not favouring any because of race or religion.
What is needed is a vision of co-existence and sharing that is acceptable to both sides. This requires some innovative lateral thinking and a willingness to get out of the current bitter impasse and achieve real and lasting peace. What needs to be developed now, is what has, until now, been missing from all other solutions. Namely, the idea and practice of citizenship and the moving away from communities based on ethnic or racial origins. The concept of citizenship for all must be the main vehicle for co-existence. This would make Palestine a modern state with all its citizens sharing equally the rights and responsibilities of a civil society.
Citizenship of such a state would entitle both Palestinians and Jews to the same privileges and resources. It would have a constitution and a bill of rights. These are necessary for getting beyond all the obstacles and pitfalls that will be encountered on the way to achieving a lasting and just resolution to the conflict.
To ensure each groups right to self-determination, through the practice of its own distinct communal life without hindrance from others, a federated state seems the most practical solution. Such a state would form a home land for both communities. It could be modelled on the canton structure of Switzerland or the Belgian arrangement between Flemmings and Walloons, that has two regional and one central government. Inside whatever structure is set up, each people would run their own affairs autonomously and be guaranteed by law the right to use its own language and practice its own religion and traditions. Both would participate in government in a single federal parliament that would concern itself with the allocation of resources, defence, the economy and other supra-communal activities. They would share a capital, which would guarantee human rights to all citizens and their ruling would be enforceable in both communities.
Challenge
Of course, many issues will have to be resolved along the way, such as the right of return, the distribution of land, compensation for those dispossessed by the long conflict and justice for victims on both sides - all very difficult issues to resolve.
Feelings of suffering and persecution held by both Palestinians and Jews are so ingrained by now, that it is almost impossible to find anyone whose thinking is not coloured by them, making it difficult to approach the issue of a secular democratic state without an us-and-them mentality prevailing. But this is the challenge, both sides must overcome their prejudices and perceptions of the other to achieve what both so ardently desire; the right to self determination and the opportunity to live their lives in peace.
None of this is easy, nor will come readily, but both communities must face up to it, for the alternatives will be worse. The war will continue, and as the demographic effects take hold there will be ethnic cleansing and atrocity as the side with the heaviest weapons become the minority surrounded on all sides by an intractable foe.
The sooner it is realised by all, that both Palestinians and Jews are here to stay, the sooner the conclusion will be reached that a just and decent peace can only be reached through co-existence. No one denies that there will be massive obstacles in the way of implanting a one-state solution, nor can the past be reversed, but if this course is not pursued there will never be peace between the two peoples.
Khalaf Ahmed AL Habtoor is the Owner and Chairman of the Al Habtoor Group of Companies. He is a past member of the National Council, he is also a former member of the Board of Directors of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He has founded two international schools in Dubai. He was the founder Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Al Ittihad Private School, which was established in 1975. Then in 1991, Mr. Al Habtoor founded Emirates International School, which has in excess of 1,800 students from over 80 nationalities. He is currently Chairman of Al Habtoor Group and Dubai National Insurance.
Source: Thinking Clearly