The Oslo Accords and the Two-State Solution
The Oslo Accords, signed in the early 1990s, marked a significant and painful concession by Palestinian leadership, agreeing to establish a future state on just 22% of their ancestral homeland. This decision was a historic move aimed at fostering peace with Israel.
The Two-State Solution
- UN General Assembly Resolution 181: Passed in 1947, it proposed the creation of two states — one Jewish and one Palestinian—in historic Palestine, which is the basis of the two-state solution concept.
- Implementation Challenges: While Israel was established in 1948, the Palestinian state remains unrealized, constrained by legal challenges and a lack of international political will.
Israel's Dual State Reality
- The First State: Established in 1948, comprising 78% of historical Palestine, through the displacement of Palestinian people.
- The Second State: Emerging within the 1967-occupied territories, controlled by the Yesha Council, functions as a settler messianic state with its own infrastructure.
International Community's Role
- The international community is at a crossroads regarding whether to support a just two-state solution or continue ignoring the growing settler state reality.
- The Importance of Justice and Accountability: Lasting peace requires acknowledging Palestinian rights, including self-determination.
- Despite having sanctions against other countries, like Russia, the international community has not taken similar actions against Israel.
Conclusion
For a sustainable peace, the world must stop treating Israel as above international law and apply accountability measures. There is a pressing need for decisive actions to prevent a shift from a potential two-state solution to a prolonged conflict.