1 State/2 State Solutions

In the first joint news conference with Netanyahu and President Trump, the president said that “so I’m looking at two-state and one-state, and I like the one both parties like”. In principal I’m OK with that. The only problem is that a one-state solution is impractical but I will give President Trump the benefit of a doubt. If some form of a one state solution is agreeable to both states, why not. Netanyahu on the other hand, said that he is OK with a two state solution as long as two conditions are met. “First the Palestinians must recognize a Jewish state.” What does it mean to be a Jewish state? He did not say the State of Israel. That’s pretty straight forward. I think at this point everyone recognizes the State of Israel. In this statement, is “Jewish” meant as an ethnicity or a religion? Is he calling for a theocracy or and ethnocracy where the conditions of the citizens depends on either religion or ethnicity and in either case non-Jews are second class citizens whether they are in the minority or majority. “Second, in any peace agreement, Israel retains the overriding security control over the entire area west of the Jordan River”. Does he mean that Israeli police and army will be in the new Palestinian country? I don’t know how else “security control” can be achieved. I imagine recognizing Israel as a Jewish state may be doable, given that there is a Palestine next door, Non-Jews can emigrate there. The second condition, however, in my mind sounds like an occupation. If you agree, we will let you have a name and stop building on your land unless building on your land is deemed necessary for our security. And, by the way, we will continue to occupying you. I don’t believe any responsible leader would agree to this. So I guess under these requirements there will never be a two state solution. So Israel will continue antagonizing the Palestinians, evoking unrest and building settlements in the West bank and Jerusalem and over time they will have the one Jewish state. Years ago I saw an interview of a Palestinian where the reporter asked why don’t you try a peaceful, Gandhi like approach to end the occupation? The interviewee responded that all the leaders of peaceful resistance are in Israeli jails.