WhatInTheWorld

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On 18 April 2024, the 15 members of the UN Security Council voted to reject the recognition of a Palestinian state. This vote would not have ratified statehood for Palestine but give them full member status (a right only awarded to states).

The draft resolution, submitted by Algeria had 12 members vote in favour, 2 abstentions (UK and Switzerland, and a single veto by the US (a permanent member).

Hilariously, the UK’s reason for abstention was that statehood should not come at the beginning of the negotiations, but it does not necessarily have to be at the end. This would be like someone with their foot on your neck insisting the removal of their foot should come only after you’ve agreed to their terms, not prior.

Anyone with half a brain understands that the Palestinians currently have an extremely weak negotiating position, strengthened by UN recognition. This is exactly what Israel is trying to prevent.

Both Israel and the US do not want to see a two-state solution, they want permanent occupation. October 7 effectively forced Israel’s hand, so their response to genocide and population transfer.

In any event, the facts on the ground effectively make a two-state solution impossible. The negotiated and internationally recognised pre-1967 borders has been rendered useless due to continuous settlement expansion by the Israelis.

Looking at the above map, you can see why Palestinians call for a state from the river to the sea. It’s the only logical way to have any semblance of a functioning state. Naturally, this perfectly reasonable demand is decried as “antisemitism”.

Currently, the Palestinian areas are separated by large parts of Israel. You can also see why Jerusalem is so hotly contested, its clearly Palestinian territory as part of the West Bank. Hence why Netanyahu was so desperate to claim it as Israel’s capital.

The only area settled exclusively by Palestinians is Gaza, which is a tiny strip of land. This will soon change once the ethnic cleansing plan of the current Netanyahu government are realised after the war.

Israel has slowly been settling areas of the West Bank as a way of dividing it in two. The current assault on Gaza provides the perfect cover to ramp up this activity. Once the West Bank is cut into two, any hopes of a Palestinian state will be well and truly dead.

There is little chance that the Israeli settlers, some of who are two generations old will be evacuated to pre-1967 borders. When you combine this with the right of return essential for the refugees who fled the Nakba in 1948, a one state solution is the only just and rational solution.

Conclusion

In my opinion, any supporters of the Palestinians should oppose a two state solution. There is nothing left for the Palestinians to form a state from, and this exactly how the Israeli leadership intended it to be. A “two-state solution” is a well meaning slogan, but practically, we should oppose the existence of the religious ethno-state that is Israel today. We should support a one state for both Israelis and Palestinians with equal rights for all.