A Sensible Israeli-Palestinian Solution

The real issue has been avoided for much too long - Jews must be explicitly recognized as indigenous to Jerusalem and the West Bank with indigenous rights as do Arabs. That includes the right of Jews to live, settle, and own property anywhere in their historic homeland. Arabs have that right in Israel but everyone expects that Jews do not have a similar right in Jerusalem and the West Bank. Without explicit acknowledgment that both Jews and Arabs are indigenous to the area, everything else is a non-starter. Israel can compromise on territory but not on basic principles regarding the Jewish people.

We should not be so concerned whether all of Jerusalem is part of Israel or some part is in a Palestinian state so long as Jewish indigenous rights are respected and Jerusalem is not physically split (it can be administratively distributed). And it is not necessary for Israel to annex any part of the West Bank so long as Jews have indigenous rights there. Let Gaza go to Hell.

A simple formula can solve the demographic problem: The ratio of Jews in a Palestinian state and Arabs in Israel must be equivalent over time. Jews would be citizens of Israel and Arabs would be citizens of their Palestinian state regardless of where they actually lived. Both states would agree on reciprocal population objectives and time-frames for implementing objectives.

Let the Arabs have their capital in East Jerusalem. Jerusalem would be the only city in history to be the capital of two different nations simultaneously. What a "Light Unto the Nations" that would be! And any foreign nations that has diplomatic relations with either state would be required to have diplomatic relations with both states. A foreign nation would have one embassy to serve both Israel and a Palestinian state, ideally in or around Jerusalem.

The walled city must be shared 50-50 - and that includes the Temple Mount. The walled city and the Temple Mount must be free from all political activity. And the Temple Mount must also be free from commercial activity. Politics and commerce in such a historically volatile place would be lightning-rod for hostilities. Deliberate incitement of hostilities, without a public apology, should result in expulsion. Additionally, there must be a reasonable area on the Temple Mount for a Jewish shrine as much for symbolic purposes as for Jewish pride; Jews have been humiliated much too long.

There must be a “Heritage Trust” to maintain, restore, and protect all historical sites in Israel, the Palestinian state, and especially Jerusalem. It must be composed of an equal number of Israeli and Palestinian trustees with a minimum number of trustees representing all major religious heritages. Either parliament would have the right to disapprove the candidacy of any trustee.

Eventually, Israel and Palestine should form a non-political Commonwealth to address problems of mutual concern. Such a Commonwealth would be subservient to both sovereign states; it would only have responsibilities agreeable to both states. The Commonwealth should have investigative, reporting, and arbitration powers but enforcement would be the sole responsibility of each state.