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We are at a critical juncture in the effort to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Israelis and Palestinians are unable to break the chains of distrust that would achieve the two-state solution and finally bring peace to the region. What is required is for President Obama to take bold action and announce a U.S. peace plan that would be endorsed by the international community including the Arab world. This plan would include:
- An end to the Israeli military
occupation of the West Bank, with the Israeli Defense Forces replaced by
an international security force effective enough to prevent violence
against either side.
- The establishment of the 1967 border
as the border between the two states. This would involve mutually
acceptable modifications, with land swaps, to permit a number of Israelis
in and around Jerusalem to retain their homes. All other Israeli settlers
on the West Bank would be withdrawn. The Separation Wall, much of which is
built on Palestinian land, would be removed.
3. A sharing of Jerusalem, which would be the capital of both states, withspecial rights of Jews and Muslims within their holy sites and joint governance of other areas of the Old City.
4. The right of Palestinians to return to the West Bank and Gaza and compensation for those with proven claims in Israel.
5. Unity between Gaza and the West Bank with free access between these two parts of the Palestinian state.
6. Requirements that the two states, Palestine and Israel, recognize the mutual right to live side by side in peace.
The basic elements of this plan already have the support of most of the international community. Now is the time to put this plan on the table and tell the Israeli and the Palestinian governments that this is what the world wants. Recent polls indicate that the majority of Palestinians and Israelis support a peaceful settlement with a two-state solution. It's time to force the issue with the necessary carrots and sticks of increased or reduced aid to both sides depending on their action regarding the peace plan. With America forcing the issue, both the Israeli and Palestinian governments can claim that the U.S. is making them accept peace and thereby shield themselves from criticism.
