Israel and Palestine: Two States for two peoples?

10 Nov 2020

Expulsion of Jews in Europe and ME 1100 – 1500

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1516 - 1918

1514 – 1914: “Palestina” = part of Turkish-Ottoman Empire

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Course plan 2022

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COVENANT LEAGUE OF NATIONSARTICLE 22.To those colonies and territories which as a consequence of the late war have ceased to be under the sovereignty of the States which formerly governed them and which are inhabited by peoples not yet able to stand by themselves under the strenuous conditions of the modern world, there should be applied the principle that the well-being and development of such peoples form a sacred trust of civilisation and that securities for the performance of this trust should be embodied in this Covenant.The best method of giving practical effect to this principle is that the tutelage of such peoples should be entrusted to advanced nations who by reason of their resources, their experience or their geographical position can best undertake this responsibility, and who are willing to accept it, and that this tutelage should be exercised by them as Mandatories on behalf of the League.The character of the mandate must differ according to the stage of the development of the people, the geographical situation of the territory, its economic conditions and other similar circumstances.Certain communities formerly belonging to the Turkish Empire have reached a stage of development where their existence as independent nations can be provisionally recognized subject to the rendering of administrative advice and assistance by a Mandatory until such time as they are able to stand alone. The wishes of these communities must be a principal consideration in the selection of the Mandatory.….

1920: Three Mandates in former Ottoman territories

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7

San Remo Peace Conference 1920League of Nations

1946

1946

1922

1932

1932

Independence

Independence

Independence

Independence

Independence

Mandate forPalestine:

• A homeland forthe Jewish peoplein Palestine

• Immigration• Close settlement

by Jews• Jewish Agency

8

78 %22 %

1921:

Transjordanseparated from the

area west of theJordan River

(League of Nations)

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1936:

Peel Commission(Britain)

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29 November 1947: UN

PartitionPlan

(United NationsGeneral Assembly)

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1948: Bernadotte

proposal

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15 May 1948: Arabs attack the newbornState of Israel

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1949: Armistice Lines

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Jordan occupies(and later annexes)

“West Bank”

Egypt occupies

Gaza

June 1967: Arab threats

to attack Israel

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June 1967: Israel controls

Sinai, West Bank, Gaza andGolan Heights

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1979: Israel after

theIsrael/Egypt Peace Treaty

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EU Two State Solution since Venice Declaration (1980)Th

• Borders: 1949 Armistice Lines

• Palestinian State

• Capital: East Jerusalem

• Gov’t: PLO / PA

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WEST BANK AFTER OSLO

450,000 Jews

2 million Palestinian Arabs

1993: Oslo Accords

Areas A, B and C

Palestinianautonomy

(not ‘statehood’)

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2000 Camp David Summit

• President Bill Clinton: "I regret that in 2000 Arafat missed the opportunity to bring that nation into being and pray for the day when the dreams of the Palestinian people for a state and a better life will be realized in a just and lasting peace.”

• Dennis Ross: what Arafat really wanted was "a one-state solution. Not independent, adjacent Israeli and Palestinian states, but a single Arab state encompassing all of Historic Palestine."

• Saudi Prince Bandar: "If Arafat does not accept what is available now, it won't be a tragedy; it will be a crime.”

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2008:

Olmert’s offerto Abbas

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2020:

Peace toProsperity Plan

(United States)

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The Palestinian perspective

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The sticking points

• Jerusalem

• Settlements

• Right of return / recognition of Israel as a ‘Jewish’ State

• Security

• PA/Terrorism

• West Bank <-> Gaza

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Palestinian statehood in the UN

• 1967: UNSC res 242 • 2004: ICJ ‘Wall’ Advisory Opinion • 2011: Palestine applies for UN membership

(failed) • 2012 UNGA: Palestine is a “UN non-Member

Observer state”• 2015: International Criminal Court• 2016: UN Security Council res 2334• 2018: International Court of Justice • 2020: “Palestine” is a State Party

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International law issues – the Israeli perspective

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International law issues – the Palestinian perspective

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Conclusions

• Any solution must respect Israel’s sovereignty– security and territorial integrity

• No support for PA/PLO unless abandonmentof plans to annihiliate Israel

• Explore other possibilities for Palestinianautonomy

• Abandon plans to re-divide Jerusalem

• Reform UNRWA

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