This Substack article provides a thorough and well-researched historical analysis of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, highlighting the complexities and challenges inherent in both one-state and two-state solutions. The author's detailed examination of past and present political dynamics offers valuable insights into why peace remains elusive and underscores the necessity for realistic approaches to future negotiations. The piece is a compelling read for anyone seeking to understand the deep-rooted issues and potential paths forward in this long-standing conflict.
Greatly appreciate the analysis. Thirty years after Oslo and Palestinian Arab society seems even further than it was when the PLO was welcomed in Ramallah. Who could have predicted putting a “former” terrorist organization in charge of education material would discourage peaceful coexistence and extreme positions?
All of this assumes that the Palestinians want or ever wanted a state of their own. Arafat didn't want peace and only saw a Palestinian state as a precursor to destroying Israel. The conflict isn't and never was about land. The Palestinians are now radicalized Islamist fundamentalists. They were always used as pawns to eventually defeat Israel. Iran has been trying use them as proxies. Any Palestinian state now would just be another Gaza. The only avenue for peace in the region is through the leaders of Iran. Palestinians would also need to be deradicalized. Only the would there be an opportunity for the Palestinians. The one state solution would also be the death of a Jewish state.
I'm not sure what Arafat personally wanted and it's not very relevant. Guy was corrupt as heck and probably could be bought off. I do know that Arafat wanted not to be assassinated, and even if Hamas can convince him that there's a 10% chance they will assassinate him, that's it.
Thank you for the most succinct, accurate, and comprehensive retelling of this critical bit of history. This the recounting of historical fact, not the promulgation of fanciful alternative narratives.
Thank you for this fantastic piece. It is so refreshing to read an article that is fact-based in our current emotionally-based media environment. Thank you again.
You missed a major historical event . In 1948 when the Jewish state was formed, 750,000 Jewish citizens living in surrounding Muslim countries for hundreds of years, were forced by deathly violence from their homes, leaving behind property, business and livelihoods. These people were refugees.
Also lest we forget the UN resolution of 1948 “zionism is racism”, you can’t make this stuff up. It should tell you everything you need to know about the UN and its Arab league.
The ultimate barrier which always precludes the Palestinians' acceptance of some settlement is that they would have to admit defeat for 1948. That is why the refugee matter is so intractable, because it constitutes a final admission of defeat - something Arab culture seems to be incapable of doing without loss of face.
The 70 years of militancy are equivalent of the practice of "counting coup", where a warrior culture claims great victory and prestige from merely injuring an opponent and surviving the encounter, notwithstanding massive damage to one's own side.
Mr.Abdul-Hussain, I thought I was well read on the history of Israel-Palestine situation, but your article is very educational and analysis is very well reasoned.
I couldn't help but re-read and think more broadly about one comment in your superb article:
"But multiethnic nations in the Middle East — Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon — have proven to be utter failures. Palestine is no exception."
The key world here is 'mutiethnic'. Islam's intolerance of other ethnic groups, and militancy and terrorism that goes with it to dominate and cleans other ethnic groups is indeed the source of almost all of the conflicts, consternation, and mistrust. This is why, those who have experienced this or understand this feel strongly that Muslims' peaceful co-existence in any multiethnic society is just a pipe dream. It is incompatible from the very idea to any implementation, until Muslims thoroughly reject such teachings, and adopt values that most of the rest of the world have for the last century or two. We all know that the chance of that happening is zero. So all these multicultural social engineering experiments underway in the West are primed for failures.
This Substack article provides a thorough and well-researched historical analysis of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, highlighting the complexities and challenges inherent in both one-state and two-state solutions. The author's detailed examination of past and present political dynamics offers valuable insights into why peace remains elusive and underscores the necessity for realistic approaches to future negotiations. The piece is a compelling read for anyone seeking to understand the deep-rooted issues and potential paths forward in this long-standing conflict.
Greatly appreciate the analysis. Thirty years after Oslo and Palestinian Arab society seems even further than it was when the PLO was welcomed in Ramallah. Who could have predicted putting a “former” terrorist organization in charge of education material would discourage peaceful coexistence and extreme positions?
All of this assumes that the Palestinians want or ever wanted a state of their own. Arafat didn't want peace and only saw a Palestinian state as a precursor to destroying Israel. The conflict isn't and never was about land. The Palestinians are now radicalized Islamist fundamentalists. They were always used as pawns to eventually defeat Israel. Iran has been trying use them as proxies. Any Palestinian state now would just be another Gaza. The only avenue for peace in the region is through the leaders of Iran. Palestinians would also need to be deradicalized. Only the would there be an opportunity for the Palestinians. The one state solution would also be the death of a Jewish state.
I'm not sure what Arafat personally wanted and it's not very relevant. Guy was corrupt as heck and probably could be bought off. I do know that Arafat wanted not to be assassinated, and even if Hamas can convince him that there's a 10% chance they will assassinate him, that's it.
Thank you for the most succinct, accurate, and comprehensive retelling of this critical bit of history. This the recounting of historical fact, not the promulgation of fanciful alternative narratives.
Thank you for this fantastic piece. It is so refreshing to read an article that is fact-based in our current emotionally-based media environment. Thank you again.
very well researched and said - thank you, Sara
The truth.
This article is absolutely fabulous. Thank you for writing it.
Good analysis of the conflict. At present in Israel/palestine conflict the discourse is often emotional and lacking in true facts .
Those with functioning grey cells will appreciate and expand their knowledge.
Don’t think wokes, liberadus , leftist will like this post but will label it as Zionist propaganda 🫢
This article is now translated into Polish:
https://www.listyznaszegosadu.pl/dysydenci/dlaczego-nie-ma-panstwa-palestynskiego-jedno-panstwo-dwunarodowe-jest-niemozliwe-scenariusz-dwalch-panstw-okazal-sie-nieosiagalny
THANK YOU!
Tribal, Mobilized, Fundamental Militant Religiosity.
The same as the majority of The Middle East.
Thank you so much for this clear and concise outline of just the facts as they are, it is so desperately needed
You missed a major historical event . In 1948 when the Jewish state was formed, 750,000 Jewish citizens living in surrounding Muslim countries for hundreds of years, were forced by deathly violence from their homes, leaving behind property, business and livelihoods. These people were refugees.
Also lest we forget the UN resolution of 1948 “zionism is racism”, you can’t make this stuff up. It should tell you everything you need to know about the UN and its Arab league.
Disclaimer, the UN resolution was November 1975, not 1948.
The ultimate barrier which always precludes the Palestinians' acceptance of some settlement is that they would have to admit defeat for 1948. That is why the refugee matter is so intractable, because it constitutes a final admission of defeat - something Arab culture seems to be incapable of doing without loss of face.
The 70 years of militancy are equivalent of the practice of "counting coup", where a warrior culture claims great victory and prestige from merely injuring an opponent and surviving the encounter, notwithstanding massive damage to one's own side.
There is, it's called Jordan
Mr.Abdul-Hussain, I thought I was well read on the history of Israel-Palestine situation, but your article is very educational and analysis is very well reasoned.
I couldn't help but re-read and think more broadly about one comment in your superb article:
"But multiethnic nations in the Middle East — Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon — have proven to be utter failures. Palestine is no exception."
The key world here is 'mutiethnic'. Islam's intolerance of other ethnic groups, and militancy and terrorism that goes with it to dominate and cleans other ethnic groups is indeed the source of almost all of the conflicts, consternation, and mistrust. This is why, those who have experienced this or understand this feel strongly that Muslims' peaceful co-existence in any multiethnic society is just a pipe dream. It is incompatible from the very idea to any implementation, until Muslims thoroughly reject such teachings, and adopt values that most of the rest of the world have for the last century or two. We all know that the chance of that happening is zero. So all these multicultural social engineering experiments underway in the West are primed for failures.