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Ambassadors

Hope in the Face of Adversity: A Two-State Solution for Israelis and Palestinians

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The recent horrific Hamas attack in southern Israel has sparked a new wave of violence, with over 60,000 Palestinians killed, including 18,000 children, and a humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. However, despite the bleak circumstances, former Canadian Ambassador to Israel, Jon Allen, remains convinced that a two-state solution is still the best chance at lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. He points to the example of former Israeli Prime Ministers Ehud Olmert and Ehud Barak, who negotiated peace with the Palestinians, and to the hundreds of former officials of the Mossad, IDF, and Shin Bet who agree that the threat from within - the ongoing occupation of 5 million Palestinian people - is the real existential threat to Israel.

Key Takeaways:

  • The two-state option remains the only realistic alternative for Israelis and Palestinians, as agreed by former Israeli Prime Ministers Ehud Olmert and Ehud Barak.
  • International relations are not static, and shocking events can cause people to change their perspectives, leading to a place where compromise and peace are possible.
  • The same six final status issues - the key areas of dispute not yet covered by other peace accords - remain on the table and will require compromises on both sides.
  • Enlightened politicians who are prepared to compromise and can exclude extremists on both sides are needed to make progress towards a two-state solution.
  • Western countries, who have nominally supported two-states for decades, are now recognizing the option is in danger of being snuffed out and are taking measures to demonstrate support.
  • There are already polls that suggest both Israelis and Palestinians would prefer two states over the status quo if asked the right questions and offered the right incentives.

Statistics:

  • Over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war in Gaza, including 18,000 children.
  • Approximately 170,000 Palestinians have been displaced due to the fighting.
  • 4.5 million Palestinians live in Gaza, 2.9 million in the West Bank, and 2.1 million in East Jerusalem.
  • 68% of Israelis support the Trump plan to deport Gazans, but a similar number also support an agreement that would fully integrate Israel into the region even if it included a Palestinian state.
  • Every Israeli government since the country's independence has hoped for Israel's acceptance by Gulf and Arab states, and 85% of Israelis support diplomatic recognition with Arab states.

Sources:

  • [www.thestar.com]
  • [Jon Allen, former Canadian Ambassador to Israel]
  • [Ehud Olmert, former Israeli Prime Minister]
  • [Ehud Barak, former Israeli Prime Minister]
  • [Nasser al-Kidwa, former Palestinian Foreign Minister]
  • [Commanders for Israel's Security]
  • [Donald Trump]
  • [Rozana Canada]
  • [Vivian Silver, Israeli Canadian peace activist]

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