Diya Upreti, Jadetimes Staff
Diya Upreti is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Isreal-Gaza war News
The Israeli-Gaza conflict is certainly one of the most thorny problems in the Middle East. Historical grievances, political tensions and religious divides have made peace turn away despite numerous attempts and proposed solutions for the sensitive issue. With such suffering and instability caused by the continued war, there have been a number of approaches to peacemaking. Yet, each of these solutions faces peculiar challenges, revealing the complexities that prevent a long-term resolution.
The Two-State Solution
This concept or strategy is perhaps the most well known and widely accepted around the world with regard to the settlement of the politics between Israel and Gaza and envisions the establishment of two distinct nations: the Palestinian in tandem with the State of Israel. Borders would be conceived from lines prior to 1967 and Jerusalem will be designated as a shared capital; each side may advance their strongest claim that it would grant them independence with a sense of a nation.
But the two-state solution has considerable challenges on its way. The first most significant challenge is the disagreement on territorial boundaries and the status of Jerusalem. Both Israel and Palestine claim Jerusalem as their capital and, hence very sensitive to negotiate on this topic, which has derailed past negotiations. Further, continued settlement expansion in the West Bank has complicated the possibility of a contiguous Palestinian state. Furthermore, the political atmosphere in both societies is polarized, with the hardline elements on both sides opposed to compromises, and this freezes politics, blocking a way forward into this solution.
The One-State Solution
The one-state solution proposes a single democratic state within which Israelis and Palestinians could live as equal citizens. Though this solution is rarely promoted, it resolves the problems of complicated territorial divisions and avoids the need to draw separate borders. As an argument in its favor, it would be even more stable and end the ethnic conflicts that have encouraged terrorism against others.
The one-state solution, however, is not without its problems. Current demographic realities mean that, as time progresses, there may be a point where Palestinians eventually outnumber Jewish citizens, sparking the fear among Israelis of losing the Jewish character of the state. Fear on the other side stems from the apprehension that rights or identity may be marginalized in a state where they may be politically or economically outnumbered. Moreover, high nationalist sentiments on both sides do not allow for a common, binational state; this puts this option outside the mainstream view.
The Confederation Model
The confederation model is a relatively newer proposal, trying to adapt both one-state and two-state solutions into one package. It would take into account the fact that Israel and Palestine are two independent states but have shared institutions, open borders with free movement, but remain separate political entities; this model tries to address sovereignty-related issues while promoting cooperation between the two on economic and security issues.
Being innovative, though, the confederation model poses practical and political challenges. Many Israelis and Palestinians are wary of sharing sovereignty and setting up cooperative institutions in an atmosphere in which trust between the parties is often seriously lacking. It is also not conducive to spreading open borders and potential threats in security terms. It would require levels of cooperation and trust unprecedented in such a hostile and suspicious climate.
International Intervention and Peacekeeping
The third option would be an international peacekeeping force to stabilize the region, with a binding presences that any accords made for peace would actually be followed. International force should be supported by the UN or regional entities to patrol borders, help in mediation of conflict, as well as giving guarantees on security. This process would create a buffer effect, allowing the parties to get used to each other and reduce violence overtime.
International intervention has its pitfalls, too. Experiences with previous interventions into conflict areas by peacekeeping forces have been characterized by mixed results, limited by the will of parties on the ground to provide necessary cooperation. In addition, both Israelis and Palestinians are likely to resist the presence of foreign troops in their territory since that is viewed as violating sovereignty. International intervention would also require continued political and economic support from other countries, which is challenging to maintain in the long term.
Challenges to Peace: Very deep-rooted distrust and extremism
At bottom, each of these solutions has its own risk factors. Distrust among the parties is deep-seated, and extremist elements on either side-of-extremist Hamas groups in Gaza, for instance, and hard-line Israeli settler movements-are opposed to compromise. Extremism generally picks up where violence leaves off, and encourages cycles of retaliation that undermine diplomatic chances. Long conflict has also created trauma and resentment, whereby ordinary citizens cannot imagine living alongside each other.
Peace between Israel and Gaza is an issue that greatly involves resolving historical issues, building trust, and finding a balance in which both parties are comfortable.
Proposals have been put on the table in succession, each with its strengths but raising challenges ranging from political polarization and territorial disputes to security and mutual distrust.
Ultimately, it will be a combination of these approaches that will likely form the scaffolding of sustainable peace, as supported by solid international willpower to be fashioned uniquely to regional circumstances. Only through attacks on the roots of the conflict and a more genuine attempt at dialogue will Israelis and Palestinians envision a future in which both communities may live in security, dignity, and peace.
