Our Solution

OK so first things first, there has been talk about so-and-so's solution and "The solution" but one particular point that this class has taught me so far is that there is an insurmountable, possibly infinite, number of possible perceptions for any given situation. It is profound how much words can affect someone's outlook... ie. How do you feel when you hear the phrase "The Ohio State University"? Proud, excited, involved... I hope to achieve the same effect although with more emphasis on unity by using the term "Our solution" to present that everyone involved is searching for some sort of peace. I cannot remember the source (possibly from the Said readings) but my inspiration comes from an article in which the author wishes to see the day when Palestinians and Israelis alike can use "Our Jerusalem" referring to both Palestinians and Israelis. And although this is a beautiful wish, it seems implausible as a possibility.

One-State Solution: Why not just pay them to leave?

Without exterminating or completely forcing out one demographic, a one state solution seems almost impossible. Some have brought up the idea of paying off one side to move them out of Israel/Palestine. If anything, Karen Armstrong's book on Jerusalem has pointed out that the "holy land" is more than just dirt and the buildings more than just brick and mortar. No amount of compensation can buy off either Palestinians or Israelis for the priceless history that it holds. Whether it be Jesus quote from the Bible, "Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 19:23) or wisdom from the Quran "And if you are killed or die, in the cause of Allah, forgiveness and mercy from Allah are far better than all (the wealth) they can cumulate" (3.157). This tells me that there is something much deeper here.

One-State Solution: Can't we just all get along?

If this were the late 600's or 1100's or even the summer of 1969 then I would most likely reply with an emphatic "Yes!" But sadly Doc has yet to create a realistic model of the "flux capacitor" that allows humans to travel back in time... so the clock continues to tick as the curious 4th dimension moves forward. Let me take a quick moment to iterate that the stubborn nature of Jerusalemites to view history so objectively has been a major influence on progress towards resolution. The fact of the matter though is that the two groups have not lived in a peaceful collective for hundreds of years and there is no reason to believe that they will anytime soon. Especially now, it would be humiliating for Palestinians to give in to the Israelis who have almost ethnically cleansed the Palestinians of their homes as well as their culture. Vice Versa, the Israelis cannot unite under a Palestinian nation because they are so influenced by Judaism which promises them the holy land of Israel.

OUR SOLUTION: Third time is the charm.

I say let's be pragmatic and make use of what is already in place. OK so there are two major religious divisions, two major language divisions, and two major ethnic divisions so it sounds like two unique nations should be created. This seems the most logical given the circumstances. In this situation, Jerusalem needs to be neutral ground (not a capital of Israel nor Palestine). Jerusalem's holy sites should not be reserved for Israelis or Palestinians but for everyone of all religious affiliations concerned including Jews, Christians, and Muslims. In order to be profitable, this should be extended to everyone so that tourism can spur the economy. The money collected in Jerusalem should not go to either state but to the collective good of the city and its holy sites: cleaning up the city, restoring historical buildings, and modernizing the area.

In order to make Israel and Palestine sustainable nations, they must also be weaned off of the foreign aid on which they heavily rely on. This makes me skeptical of creating Jerusalem an "international city". Rather, I believe that it should be controlled by a theocracy of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim elected officials who can govern the cities financial resources as they see fit. Hopefully the influx of tourists will bring about better times for Jerusalem which will also hopefully spread to the surrounding countries of Israel and Palestine.

Palestinians need to be allowed equal rights as citizens. They need to be given the ability to build homes in the same areas of Jerusalem that Israelis can. Those in the city of Jerusalem should not belong to either Israel or Palestine but should be called only Jerusalemites. This should spark culturally different families to live side-by-side with one another which will hopefully create a sort of domino effect in Palestine and israel that they are accepting of all cultures.

Palestine must unite the West Bank with Gaza in order to ensure stability. This shouldn't cut through major Jewish towns but will allow all inhabitants of Palestine to move through the country with more ease. Here, there should be a checkpoint set up that includes both Palestinians and Israelis (like any international border).

The capitals must then be moved away from Jerusalem so that these can become secular states. This will hopefully also draw attention away from Jerusalem and onto the forming nations of Israel and Palestine. Cutting the nations off from any influences they could have on Jerusalem and the holy sites is the best plan of action in creating 2 secular states.

Sorry for the way that the pictures came out but I cannot figure out how to move them in the blog. The picture of proposed states of Israel and Palestine that I drew are at the top and below is the Ohio State University logo. The logo relates to the first paragraph and the picture later on. Enjoy.