The two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine crisis is favoured by the West, including Britain the US – but what might that entail and what could be the process?
The Israel-Palestine tension has raged for decades and it will take giant diplomacy to create peace.
The two-state solution, in which Israel would live side-by-side with an independent Palestinian state, is the model favoured by the West, including Britain, the US and EU. But what might that entail and what could be the process?
Step 1: A 60-day ceasefire is declared in which both sides negotiate for permanent peace – but a threat of all-out war remains. Ten hostages are handed over, with the corpses of 18 more, and jailed Palestinians are exchanged.
Step 2: Remaining Hamas men step aside or are allowed to flee via Egypt, possibly to travel to Lebanon, forever looking over their shoulder for Mossad’s kill squads. Reconstruction of Gaza begins, costing at least £50billion and taking 10 to 15 years.
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Step 3: An interim government takes over Gaza with heavy security and arms to avert a fresh war and keep a lid on crime gangs – and a year later, an organisation such as the Palestinian Authority takes over.
Step 4: It may be months, possibly years, before some hostages are released in exchange for safe passage for Hamas gunmen. They may be used as leverage. Now negotiations would be under way for a two-state solution.
Step 5: Middle Eastern negotiators, Israel, the US and European leaders thrash out how the two states might exist as neighbours and what to do with 700,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank. How much of the West Bank and, if anything, of East Jerusalem should Palestine get?
Step 6: At their closest the West Bank and Gaza are 30 miles apart. They may be joined by a secure rail or roadwork, either an elevated roadway or a tunnel.
Because of belligerents such as Hezbollah, Iran and Yemeni Houthis, plus remaining Hamas fighters, at any time all of this could explode.