An Idea For Peace In The Middle East

An Idea For Peace In The Middle East

During my stay in Washington, I wrote a thesis about how to solve the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. My main idea was this:

"In order for there to be a successful two-state solution, a major land swapping must take place between the two Palestinian territories: the Gaza Strip and West Bank. The Gaza strip must be given to Israel, while its people are repatriated to the West Bank. Similarity, land of equal mass surrounding the West Bank must be swapped by Israel. There are two main reasons that will make this massive land swap particularly complex. First, there are two different governments in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank that do not get along, partly because of different ideologies. Second, there is the issue of the Israeli settlers living in an array of settlements throughout the West Bank. Not to mention an array of other things that would hinder the process."

I personally think it's an amazing concept, if it could be considered as an option. I know it is a bunch of crap possible. I concluded that:

"If both the Palestinians and Israelis do not come to a compromise of some sort, they will both endure regrettable consequences that cannot be overturned. For the Palestinians, this consists of instability between the two factions, Hamas and Fatah, and continuing bloodshed with the Israelis. For Israel, its stubbornness will pay a price before long due to the issue of a status quo. As a result, it will be undermined as a Jewish democracy. It is important to also consider the fact; time is no longer on either’s side. Having all that in mind, it becomes clear that something must be done immediately in the form of a land-for-peace agreement. 

The Israelis and Palestinians cannot come to terms alone, and will need the support of a key negotiator, the United States as demonstrated in past peace proposals. With the aid of the rest of the Quartet (The European Union, United Nations, and Russia) to reside over the peace process, a two-state solution can be implemented. This requires a strong leadership that can be demonstrated by President Barack Obama along side of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Middle East Envoy George Mitchell. At the negotiating table, President Obama must study the case from both angles without forming a bias on the issue which often becomes dependent on the benefits of various American interest groups.

Despite losing hope, the Palestinians are becoming more malleable in desperation as demonstrated with the transformation of Hamas. With some persuasion from Arab countries through the influence of the United States, a feasible plan can be executed. Ignoring Hamas is no longer an option; the Obama Administration must acknowledge their existence and so should Israel. The United States must deal with both sides head on through the implementation of carrots and sticks. An offering should be made to appease the Israeli government in the form of sticks. On the other hand if it is turned down, the United States must remind Israel of the reality of things through some sticks. Therefore it must look back to its past examples of sticks, such as under former President George Bush when he threatened to cut aid off to Israel. The United States is the only nation that has the ability and power to exert influence over Israel to shape its future. By exerting its influence, the United States would be doing Israel a favor and saving it from its own demise if it gets Israel to negotiate a major land-swap deal. As with every conflict resolution, there will be complications. But if taken into consideration in a serious, organized, and practical matter, peace can be achieved.

Peace in the Middle East seems like an outlandish idea that may never consume the region. Yet, people had similar sentiments about South African apartheid, the Irish Republican Army, the Tamil Tigers of Sri Lanka, and many other conflict zones throughout the world. From these examples we find hope for a change in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict through a two-state solution. However, as long as Israel keeps doing its own thing and the Palestinians retaliate in their own ways, peace will slowly become a problem of the past"

What do you think of this plan?