When Palestinian intellectual Naseer Aruri argued two years ago that the only real solution in the dispute between Israelis and Palestinians was a single state incorporating both groups equally, I thought he was nuts.
New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman brought up the idea again in a recent article, but now my reaction is different. With the Roadmap (the internationally sponsored plan to create an independent Palestian state by 2005) falling apart as the Palestinian Authority fails to reign in terrorists and the Israeli government continuing its futile policy of assassination, incursion and threats of expulsion for Arafat-I'm starting to agree.
The central problem is refusal by extremists to compromise. Each side has a minority that insists on its God-given right to possess not some, but all of the land. As realists who care more for peace than unflinching dogma, they cannot see why compromise is anathema to the hardliners. But as moderation takes hold and peace begins to take root, the extremists, finding their support dwindling, inevitably resort to violence that once again polarizes the two peoples.
Attempts at reconciliation in a two-state agreement have failed to garner progress. Disputes over borders, settlements, security, refugees, water, access to holy sites and other contentious points have made a resolution near impossible. Even if a two-state arrangement can be made, it may pacify the hardliners for a while, but sooner or later, they would begin clamoring for complete control of the lands again. Only a one-state solution will render the disagreements moot.
Israel is seeking security, the maintenance of settlements interspersed throughout the Palestinian territories and access to religious sites. Palestinians want a state that will treat them with respect while allowing them to keep their land, have freedom of movement and the ability to visit holy places. A single-state solution would allow all parties to stay on their land, give them total access and movement, resolve water disputes and remove the poverty and second class status of the Palestinians that is feeding the violence.
It is not a solution that leaders are trumpeting yet, but some intellectuals are beginning to find plausibility in the idea. More importantly, people in the region seem to like the idea. A recent poll of Palestinians suggested that between 25 and 30 percent already support unifying into a single state with Israelis. Hopefully, the movement will be able to generate enough steam to bulldoze the violent ideologies of those who seek to destroy peace.
By embracing each other as brothers and sisters, the majority of Israelis and Palestinians who want peace can work together to raise each other up while uniting to oppose those who undermine the pursuit of reconciliation. Only when both sides have a stake in a shared future can there ever be peace.
Nathan Kalmoe is a junior majoring in political science.
