So I just thought to myself about an idea of a possible merging of the 2 state/1 state dichotomy to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.
I was wondering if anyone else has written about a possible 2 state solution and a Federal Government on top of both states, Like in the U.S. Govt.
Where both states would be able to write laws in according to there specific problems and have a Federal Govt that would deal with issues that cross borders.
With a two bodies of government like the Senate and the Congress in the U.S. where both have to write laws and agree then have it passed through up to the Executive branch.
Instead of both bodies coming to an agreement they can write a law that concerns cross borders issues and that law will be passed up into a federal congress that will debate on a compromise. With 3 bodies of Govt in all. 2 from each state and 1 with representation from both states and a consitution to allow guide lines between debate and law like the U.S. system.
I’ve read a bit about this issue but I’ve never heard anyone talk or write about a solution like this. Has anyone else?
Could the states have different immigration policies? Would there be freedom of movement between the two states? How would you address the right of return issue?
Any two countries could do this but it doesn’t happen much. Splitting countries seems to be more common. In this case their differences seriously outweigh their common interests as they perceive them. A lot of changes have to happen before any solution can be considered feasible.
A little like the United Arab Republic of Syria and Egypt, in the late-middle 20th century. It left each nation sovereign and independent, but coordinated their foreign policies.
It collapsed over differences regarding centralization.
How would an Israel/Palestine union be likely to do any better? What could they possibly agree on?
Both. For example, would Palestine have any say over Jewish aliyah to Israel? Would Israel have any say over the people that could move from abroad into Palestine (especially Palestinians living in Jordan, Lebanon etc.)? And if a million Palestinians want to move from Palestine to Israel, how would that be handled?
I’d assume in this scenario Palestine would control immigration into their state and Isreal would do the same. So if people wanted to move into Palestine from 3rd countrie they’d regulate that and if Israel wanted to regulate immigration from any country including Palestine they would.
The closest I’ve seen to this was people regularly arguing for Israel becoming a “bi-national” state modeled after Lebanon.
Noam Chomsky actually had public debates with Allan Dershowitz where that’s the position he took(claiming that Christians and Muslims lived in peace and harmony) while Dershowitz called for a two state solution.
For some reason, since 1975 that argument hasn’t been particularly popular.