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Israeli–Palestinian peace process |
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The two-state solution is a proposed approach to resolving the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, by creating two states on the territory of the former Mandatory Palestine.
The first proposal for separate Jewish and Arab states in the territory was made by the British Peel Commission report in 1937.[1] In 1947, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a partition plan for Palestine, leading to the 1948 Palestine war.[2][3] As a result, Israel was established on the area the UN had proposed for the Jewish state, as well as almost 60% of the area proposed for the Arab state. Israel took control of West Jerusalem, which was meant to be part of an international zone. Transjordan took control of East Jerusalem and what became known as the West Bank, annexing it the following year. The territory which became the Gaza Strip was occupied by Egypt but never annexed. Since the 1967 Six-Day War, both the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and Gaza Strip have been militarily occupied by Israel, becoming known as the Palestinian territories.
The Palestine Liberation Organization has accepted the concept of a two-state solution since the 1982 Arab Summit.[clarification needed][4] In 2017, Hamas announced their revised charter, which claims to accept the idea of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, but without recognising the statehood of Israel.[5] Diplomatic efforts have centred around realizing a two-state solution, starting from the failed 2000 Camp David Summit and the Clinton Parameters, followed by the Taba Summit in 2001. The failure of the Camp David summit to reach an agreed two-state solution formed the backdrop to the commencement of the Second Intifada, the violent consequences of which marked a turning point among both peoples’ attitudes.[6][7][8] A two-state solution also formed the basis of the Arab Peace Initiative, the 2006–2008 peace offer, and the 2013–14 peace talks.
57 states have expressed their desire for a two-state plan, notably not including Israel. Germany published specific wishes for such 'two states', with the "Palestinian state" "based on the 4 June 1967 borders" (comprising West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem), and Israel possessing the remaining 78% of the former Mandatory Palestine. The remaining G7 countries have also mentioned that "a Palestinian state" should be part of the plan, while the other 50 countries have given no specifications. Currently there is no two-state solution proposal being negotiated between Israel and Palestinians. The Palestinian Authority today supports the idea of a two-state solution;[9] Israel at times has also supported the idea, but nowadays rejects the creation of a Palestinian state.[10] Long-serving Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in 2015 rejected a Palestinian state.[11] He again rejected a Palestinian state in June 2023.[12][13] Former Israeli PMs Ehud Barak and Ehud Olmert in late 2023 expressed support for a two-state solution.[14][15] Public support among Israelis and among Palestinians (measured separately) for “the concept of the two-state solution” etc. have varied between far above and far below 50%, depending partly on how the question was phrased.
The major points of contention include the specific boundaries of the two states (though most proposals are based on the 1967 lines), the status of Jerusalem, the Israeli settlements and the right of return of Palestinian refugees. Observers have described the current situation in the whole territory, with the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and blockade of the Gaza Strip, as one of de facto Israeli sovereignty.[16][17] The two-state solution is an alternative to the one-state solution and what observers consider a de facto one-state reality.[18][19][20]
The Second Intifada starkly demonstrated the failure of years of negotiations, and marked a turning point in both internal Israeli and Palestinian politics.
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