It is worthless speaking of a two-state solution unless you can define what it actually means.

It is naive to assume there will ever be peace while the Israelis fear a genocidal attack and the vast majority of Palestinians hate the Jews; 70% according to a recent poll.

If there is to be any solution of the conflict it must comply with accepted international law and doctrines and not regarded as a ‘special case’ outside the norms of international diplomacy.

Here is my contribution to solve the problem which needs agreement by the parties in conflict, the surrounding nations and endorsed by the United Nations.

The Geography

The geography of the tribes of the area goes back thousands of years. The Jews can argue that they had protected status under the Romans for an area centred around Judaea with Bethlehem as the capital. For the Palestinians they were spread as nomadic tribes in areas to the north and south in Samaria and Idumea, and wider still to what is now Syria and Lebanon.

The state of Israel was formed in 1948 with proscribed borders and endorsed by the UN. Palestine never had a state. Palestinians became concentrated in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, previously part of Jordan.

The 6-Day War in 1967 ended with the West Bank and Gaza becoming occupied by Israel as well as the Golan Heights in Syria. The main Arab protagonists were, Egypt, Syria and Jordan. The borders were redrawn.

As with all wars there is a heavy price to pay for the defeated.

The Solution for Israel

Israel has to have a secure state of its own and a demilitarised zone in vulnerable areas. The states who have engaged in military attacks over the decades should pay a price. The land of the Golan Heights, West Bank should be annexed by Israel but as a concession Israel allow the expansion eastwards of the Gaza Strip to render a safe and sustainable economic state for all Palestinians currently resident in the territory.

Furthermore, the states of Lebanon, Syria and Egypt be required to cede contiguous land to Palestine to allow the economic viability and functioning of a state and free movement of its people.

The Palestinians allowed to live anywhere in the expanded territory beyond Gaza as residents, eligible to vote in local municipal elections but would have no citizen rights other than those pertaining to its host country Palestine in Gaza. Free movement would allow automatic right to visit places of religious importance. 

Israel would withdraw all its military forces to within its own new border.

The Solution for Palestine

Palestine needs a contiguous area that will economically sustain all its residents without international aid beyond that required for reconstruction.

The Palestinians would have to give up all their claims over a territory previously the territory of Jordan but lost in the 6-Day War. That’s the price for them for peace.

Gaza expanded North, South and East to give a viable territory. This would require incursions into Southern Lebanon, Sinia, and a strip of contiguous land to the East of Israel. This means sacrifices for some Arab States and Israel. Gaza would have whatever local government they wished, regulated by a triumvirate and subject to a free vote regulated by an independent agency.

All hostages or political prisoners returned dead or alive to their families.

There would be free movement of goods and peoples in both territories. Palestinians would have full citizens rights in the new territory but not in any other state.

The government of Gaza would be overseen by a temporary triumvirate, of say a minimum of ten years, during which the transition is their responsibility for the validation of demilitarisation, establishment of local government and stewardship of the reconstruction process.

The triumvirate would comprise of representatives of the main Arab states in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Yemen co-chaired between the UN and USA.

Once the new Palestinian State has proved its international credentials after at least ten years it would be free to apply for full statehood in the UN and all oversight removed provided no member of the Palestinian Government, or triumvirate objects.

No election will take place in Gaza for at least five years until the transition period has made sufficient progress.

Conclusion

This proposal is laid on the table, made non-negotiable, endorsed by designated nations and kept there until an agreement is finally signed up. No international aid would be forthcoming until this is accepted. Otherwise, the war carries on indefinitely.

The agony is shared but all would benefit.

This or any refined version would at least gain the support of the people of other free nations.