Jim Hlavac
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Foreign Affairs
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What exactly is the goal of the Mideast Peace Process? At least publicly there is
a stated belief that two states, one Israeli and one Palestinian can live side by
side. And yet the violence is intractable because both sides have extremists who
believe that the other side has no right to survival. When you boil away all the
foam of violence and hate, of religion and history, what you're left with is a
residue of two peoples claiming the same plot of ground. They have been
fighting each other for centuries, with only the technological means advancing.
And there is no solution offered that could conceivably mollify the extremes
(which aren't fringes, but are appreciable minorities.)
So here's a radical solution: The Federation of Israel and Palestine.
Consider this, Palestinians already work all over Israel, and have to travel
through it to get from one side of their proposed country to the other. And
Israelis have settled all over Palestine, with many considering these settlements
in ancient Judea and Sumaria as permanent. When the talk of peaceful division
arises always there is the call for Jews to return to the pre-1967 borders and also
call for the right of Palestinians to live anywhere within the whole of both states. It
seems a long stretch, but actually might be easier to achieve, to have both
people live in "one state." And here's how it might be done.
In a federation of the two people some areas of operation would be wholly
one or the other, and others would be combined. First create four "states,"
corresponding to American States, with internal powers. They would be Gaza,
Israel proper, the West Bank and Judea and Sumaria. Each people would then
have their own "state." Instead of living "side by side," they would live "within and
among." It's obvious that the two people, at the street level, can get along with
each other. The purest evidence of that is Palestinian workers in Israel and
Jewish casino goers in the West Bank. But here's what they could share together:
Each state would have an equal number of seats in a Federal Parliament,
modeled on the US Senate. This senate would have authority to only deal with
national issues. With an even number of votes for each side, there would have to
be compromise from one side or the other to get legislation passed and projects
for the good of all to move forward.
Economics:
The infrastructure should be built to provide water, electricity, phone and
internet access, roads, bridges and the solid parts to the infrastructure to all the
territory, regardless of who lives on the individual plots of land. The
infrastructure is already melded together to some degree, and no matter what,
both sides are drawing from the same water. Both sides are drawing electricity
from the same plants. Both sides are travelling the same roads. This would
bring the Palestinians up to the economic level of Israaeis and lessen a huge
source of anger. And by making it impossible for one side to have "better" or
"more" it will, over time, lead to a level of cooperation between the trained
members of both sides.
The currency would be called both the Shekel and the Dinar. On half the
currency Arabic would be the predominant language, with Arabic motifs. And on
the other half Hebrew would be the predominant language with Jewish motifs. Just
like in our own government forms where English is writ big, but Spanish is in
parenthesis below, so too could the Federation's currency reflect this division.
Only with half of all the currency of one flavor or the others. A more refined idea
than many currencies with two languages or alphabets printed on them.
The respective sabbaths can be observed within each area with out
prejudice to one side or the other. And respective dietary laws could be
implemented in both regions. In places were Palestinians and Jews live in the
same town or city this could still be accomplished. Imagine an office of public
inspectors where some employees are Jews and some Arabs. When a call
comes to work with a Jewish owned business the Jewish government official would
go, and when a comes to work with an Arab owned business an Arab government
official would go.
Schools would be run by the separate state divisions, with the curriculum set
by the local authority. However, certain national curriculum would be required.
Such as students should learn both Arabic and Hebrew. They should both learn
the history of the area from one book, and the geography would have to be the
same.
Taxes:
Local taxes would be applied locally and administered locally and the local
politicians would be subject to their own people. And the national taxes would be
levied equally on both sides per capita. But more things would be provided at
the local level rather than at the national level so both sides couldn't claim that
they are paying for the other's good. They would be paying for themselves. But
building a water pipeline across the country should be paid for equally per capita
across the country -- because both sides will use it to the degree which their
populations are served.
Police:
Within each state the police would be drawn from the local populace, so Jews
would not police Palestinians and vice versa. Though a slow integration and
working together couldn't be a bad idea. The vast majority of laws, such as those
against speeding, domestic violence, stealing, fraud, murder and the like would
be identical across the Federation, but with nuances for each side.
Where those being sought by the police cross the border than the matter
would be turned over to the local police, with an adviser or interpreter from the
other side accompanying the officers so that there is a safety valve to avoid
major misunderstanding.
Law:
Within each state the judicial system would be based on Muslim law in the
two Palestinian states and on Jewish law in the two Jewish states. So no Jew or
Arab would feel that he was subject to unholy justice. Laws on marriage, divorce,
children, inheritance -- all the laws that might fall under the rubric of "family law"
would be based on the local population's beliefs. There seems little likelihood
that Jewish and Arab families are going to intermarry at this point. But even if a
couple did it could be a simple law that the religious law of the husband should
govern the family.
When it comes to commercial law there would be one set of laws throughout
the Federation. The two economies are forever linked, making one set of rules
for all the players would only benefit everyone. And again, there could always
be nuances to each side's rules. In the case where Jews and Arabs contract with
each other it would not be hard to insert a "this agreement will be governed by
(Israeli or Palestinian) law" like we do with our own agreements specifying one
state law over another. Disputes would be heard by judges who adhered to one
side or the other.
On Foreign Policy and Defense an entirely new reality would be created.
The other Arab states throughout the Mideast would have no more reason to
punish or ostracize the new state because by doing so they would be penalizing
their own Arab brethren. And the Israelis have already proven they want normal
relations with all their neighbors. The very need for a super strong military would
lessen since the antagonism would be gone. Though a strong military might still
be required in the beginning. And Israel already has the strongest. So while in
the beginning Jews would run the external defense of all the people, there could
be a time table for integration of Palestinians into the national military. Does a
separate Palestinian State need a military at all? Israel's neighbors aren't going
to invade Palestine, and the Israelis aren't going to invade their "own" territory.
Sure it's a long shot, but it might have a better chance of bringing in
moderates from both sides, mollifying the extremists and more importantly, gain
the support of all the people. Even the name can be shared equally by having
on side call it the Federation of Israel and Palestine and the other side call it the
Federation of Palestine and Israel.
a stated belief that two states, one Israeli and one Palestinian can live side by
side. And yet the violence is intractable because both sides have extremists who
believe that the other side has no right to survival. When you boil away all the
foam of violence and hate, of religion and history, what you're left with is a
residue of two peoples claiming the same plot of ground. They have been
fighting each other for centuries, with only the technological means advancing.
And there is no solution offered that could conceivably mollify the extremes
(which aren't fringes, but are appreciable minorities.)
So here's a radical solution: The Federation of Israel and Palestine.
Consider this, Palestinians already work all over Israel, and have to travel
through it to get from one side of their proposed country to the other. And
Israelis have settled all over Palestine, with many considering these settlements
in ancient Judea and Sumaria as permanent. When the talk of peaceful division
arises always there is the call for Jews to return to the pre-1967 borders and also
call for the right of Palestinians to live anywhere within the whole of both states. It
seems a long stretch, but actually might be easier to achieve, to have both
people live in "one state." And here's how it might be done.
In a federation of the two people some areas of operation would be wholly
one or the other, and others would be combined. First create four "states,"
corresponding to American States, with internal powers. They would be Gaza,
Israel proper, the West Bank and Judea and Sumaria. Each people would then
have their own "state." Instead of living "side by side," they would live "within and
among." It's obvious that the two people, at the street level, can get along with
each other. The purest evidence of that is Palestinian workers in Israel and
Jewish casino goers in the West Bank. But here's what they could share together:
Each state would have an equal number of seats in a Federal Parliament,
modeled on the US Senate. This senate would have authority to only deal with
national issues. With an even number of votes for each side, there would have to
be compromise from one side or the other to get legislation passed and projects
for the good of all to move forward.
Economics:
The infrastructure should be built to provide water, electricity, phone and
internet access, roads, bridges and the solid parts to the infrastructure to all the
territory, regardless of who lives on the individual plots of land. The
infrastructure is already melded together to some degree, and no matter what,
both sides are drawing from the same water. Both sides are drawing electricity
from the same plants. Both sides are travelling the same roads. This would
bring the Palestinians up to the economic level of Israaeis and lessen a huge
source of anger. And by making it impossible for one side to have "better" or
"more" it will, over time, lead to a level of cooperation between the trained
members of both sides.
The currency would be called both the Shekel and the Dinar. On half the
currency Arabic would be the predominant language, with Arabic motifs. And on
the other half Hebrew would be the predominant language with Jewish motifs. Just
like in our own government forms where English is writ big, but Spanish is in
parenthesis below, so too could the Federation's currency reflect this division.
Only with half of all the currency of one flavor or the others. A more refined idea
than many currencies with two languages or alphabets printed on them.
The respective sabbaths can be observed within each area with out
prejudice to one side or the other. And respective dietary laws could be
implemented in both regions. In places were Palestinians and Jews live in the
same town or city this could still be accomplished. Imagine an office of public
inspectors where some employees are Jews and some Arabs. When a call
comes to work with a Jewish owned business the Jewish government official would
go, and when a comes to work with an Arab owned business an Arab government
official would go.
Schools would be run by the separate state divisions, with the curriculum set
by the local authority. However, certain national curriculum would be required.
Such as students should learn both Arabic and Hebrew. They should both learn
the history of the area from one book, and the geography would have to be the
same.
Taxes:
Local taxes would be applied locally and administered locally and the local
politicians would be subject to their own people. And the national taxes would be
levied equally on both sides per capita. But more things would be provided at
the local level rather than at the national level so both sides couldn't claim that
they are paying for the other's good. They would be paying for themselves. But
building a water pipeline across the country should be paid for equally per capita
across the country -- because both sides will use it to the degree which their
populations are served.
Police:
Within each state the police would be drawn from the local populace, so Jews
would not police Palestinians and vice versa. Though a slow integration and
working together couldn't be a bad idea. The vast majority of laws, such as those
against speeding, domestic violence, stealing, fraud, murder and the like would
be identical across the Federation, but with nuances for each side.
Where those being sought by the police cross the border than the matter
would be turned over to the local police, with an adviser or interpreter from the
other side accompanying the officers so that there is a safety valve to avoid
major misunderstanding.
Law:
Within each state the judicial system would be based on Muslim law in the
two Palestinian states and on Jewish law in the two Jewish states. So no Jew or
Arab would feel that he was subject to unholy justice. Laws on marriage, divorce,
children, inheritance -- all the laws that might fall under the rubric of "family law"
would be based on the local population's beliefs. There seems little likelihood
that Jewish and Arab families are going to intermarry at this point. But even if a
couple did it could be a simple law that the religious law of the husband should
govern the family.
When it comes to commercial law there would be one set of laws throughout
the Federation. The two economies are forever linked, making one set of rules
for all the players would only benefit everyone. And again, there could always
be nuances to each side's rules. In the case where Jews and Arabs contract with
each other it would not be hard to insert a "this agreement will be governed by
(Israeli or Palestinian) law" like we do with our own agreements specifying one
state law over another. Disputes would be heard by judges who adhered to one
side or the other.
On Foreign Policy and Defense an entirely new reality would be created.
The other Arab states throughout the Mideast would have no more reason to
punish or ostracize the new state because by doing so they would be penalizing
their own Arab brethren. And the Israelis have already proven they want normal
relations with all their neighbors. The very need for a super strong military would
lessen since the antagonism would be gone. Though a strong military might still
be required in the beginning. And Israel already has the strongest. So while in
the beginning Jews would run the external defense of all the people, there could
be a time table for integration of Palestinians into the national military. Does a
separate Palestinian State need a military at all? Israel's neighbors aren't going
to invade Palestine, and the Israelis aren't going to invade their "own" territory.
Sure it's a long shot, but it might have a better chance of bringing in
moderates from both sides, mollifying the extremists and more importantly, gain
the support of all the people. Even the name can be shared equally by having
on side call it the Federation of Israel and Palestine and the other side call it the
Federation of Palestine and Israel.