By Joel Bainerman
While the One State
Solution(OSS) to solving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is typically
rejected outright as being a demographic threat to Israel- this approach
could very well be the only viable path to solving the conflict.
The
typical assumption is that if Israel annexed the approximately 1.5
million West Bank Arabs and granted them full Israeli citizenship-
within a generation there would be more Arabs than Jews in Israel and
thus Israel would lose its Jewish majority in the Knesset.
This
conclusion is simplistic. In addition, Israel is not a Jewish state- it
is a secular, democratic state with an overwhelming Jewish population.
As Israeli Arabs have enjoyed the benefits of Israeli citizenship- so
too can the 1.5 million West Bank Arabs.
This
group of Palestinians could enjoy all the benefits of full Israeli
citizenship- and yet still express their political will via a local,
West Bank parliamentary legislature with elected representatives
responsible for various aspects of West Bank society. Eventually, after
consecutive years of political stability and economic prosperity-
institutions of political autonomy would evolve.
Why the OSS is good for the Palestinians
The
first benefit the Palestinians will enjoy from an OSS is that they will
no longer be under military rule. The moment the Israeli government
grants them full Israeli citizenship- the state of military occupation
effectively ends. The security fence and all military checkpoints can be
dismantled. The entire area between the Jordan River and the
Mediterranean Sea will be one geographical, political entity with no
need for internal security fences or borders of any type. One state, one
economy, two peoples.
Most
importantly, the West Bankers would be able to pursue their full
economic rights in the Israeli national economy. That means a right to
work in any job- anywhere in Israel- and the right to own assets and
property in Israel. In addition- as full Israeli citizens, they would
have the right to bring civil legal action against the Israeli
government for what they may claim was the theft of their land or other
property.
As
full citizens of the state of Israel the West Bankers would also
receive a complete upgrade of their social, economic, educational,
industrial, health and public infrastructure- at a cost that will be
borne by the Israeli taxpayer. As part of the plan, Israel would take it
upon itself to build permanent housing for the approximately 175,000
Palestinian refugees who currently reside in refugee camps in the West
Bank.
Upon
receiving Israeli citizenship the West Bankers would go from being a
stateless people under military occupation- to citizens of a country
that has the strongest and most dynamic economy in the region. Their
living standards will rise as fast as the Israeli Arabs did in the 60s
and 70s.
Why the OSS is good for Israel
The OSS is an excellent option for Israel.
Once
the military rule is disbanded- Israel could no longer be criticized
for depriving the Palestinians of their rights. If these new Israeli
citizens do engage in anti-Israel activities they will be charged with
treason and tried by Israel’s civilian judicial system- just like any
Israeli citizen who engages in actions harmful against the state.
The
entire network of military prisons can be converted to civilian prisons
administered by the Israeli Prison Authority. Over time, Palestinian
policeman whose allegiance is to the State of Israel, would take over
the responsibility of safeguarding the public order in the West Bank-
along with their counterparts in the Israeli police.
As
one political entity, there would be no reason to dismantle Jewish
settlements at an estimated cost of tens of billions of dollars. In the
eyes of the law- the West Bankers would enjoy the same rights as the
Jewish residents of the West Bank/Judea and Samaria. No longer would the
Arabs who live near the settlements view them as their enemy but as
their neighbors and fellow citizens.
The
West Bankers are more valuable to Israel’s long term interest
productive workers and active consumers in the national economy- rather
than remaining poor under Israeli military occupation. Israel’s national
economy would grow by more than 2 million consumers and workers in
addition to the future economic growth that would come from the new
wealth and higher living standards that the West Bankers will
experience. As the West Bank economy is already nearly completely
integrated into the Israeli economy, by enriching the Palestinians- the
Israeli economy will reap huge economic gains. Just like the Israeli
economy reaped enormous benefits after 1967 as did the West Bank
economy- it will this time as well. Just as the 1.5 million Russians who
came to Israel in the early 1990s created a much bigger domestic
market- so too will the additional of 1.5 million new paying consumers.
The OSS is win-win for both sides
The
fact is that neither side has an alternative other than to turn to
embrace each other. Separating the two peoples behind borders, fences
and checkpoints is not a long-term solution for Israel- and certainly
has no upside for the West Bank Arabs. Israel has a responsibility to
its citizens to search for ways to rid itself of the harmful effects of
the military occupation over the West Bankers. That solution must
include a path that leads to living standards and a more prosperous
future for the West Bankers.
While
the OSS solution does not include an “independent Palestinian state” as
things stand today- it is unlikely that such a political entity would
ever arise- and even if it did- it would be unstable and poor. The
options before the West Bankers are higher living standards and regional
stability with a confederation with Israel- and the right to rule over
their own affairs- or- essentially, more of the same. The choice for the
Palestinians is between military occupation, political instability and
economic stagnation- or a future of double digit growth rates.
The “One State Solution” will create one political state and one national economy for both peoples.
Joel
Bainerman has been writing on Middle East affairs since 1982. His
published archive can be viewed on his web site at www.joelbainerman.com
He can be reached at isratech@netvision.net.il and at Phone: +972 52
560 2644
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