Next year in Jerusalem…a defense of the Two State Solution

As I write this essay America as an institution has fallen. Our constitution that served to detail the great American experiment of equality for all is in crisis and our roles as global peacekeeper and economic powerhouse seems to be statuses of a bygone era.  The values that make up this great experiment are under threat. Freedoms of speech, religion, and press are slowly being tested to see which one will break first. Watching a Nation you care for deeply betray the values it was founded to uphold is a fate I wouldn’t wish on anyone, yet I see the same thing happening in Israel. 

In Genesis, Jacob wrestles a mysterious man who eventually reveals himself to be G-d and renames Jacob to “Israel” meaning to struggle with G-d. True to the origins of it’s name, Israel has struggled measuring the right ratio of it’s two core values, those being a state that is both democratic and Jewish.

Any iteration of a one State Solution would fail both of these values. It’s often easy to wax poetic about a one state solution with equal rights for all, including a full right of return. This solution looks like an easy fix that would serve as reparation for the Nakba and would eventually facilitate a strong multicultural nation. However with 11 Million Palestinian refugees moving into a country with 7 Million Jews problems would quickly arise. The Jewish people would once again be a minority in their own state, one founded by people who knew what it was like to live in a Jewish minority, to exist as a perpetual scape-goat through centuries of European and Middle Eastern persecution. Jewish self determination would be reduced to nothing but the name. If equal rights (specifically voting) were granted to all we’d see an untenable situation where disciples of Sinwar could democratically win a Knesset majority. This is without even discussing the logistical challenges that come with a population increase of 11 million such as the creation of homes and the expansion of infrastructure. The truth of the matter is that Israel as a Jewish state isn’t going anywhere and that’s been the case since their nuclear development during the 6 days war.

On the flip side there’s an alarming increase of rhetoric that supports the establishment of one state with unequal rights. a twisted variant of the status quo that obliterates all chances for Palestinian self determination and ultimately suggests an eventual choice between expulsion or becoming citizens of a state that would rob them of rights granted to others, a situation the Jewish people have found themselves in one too many times. The truth seems hard to digest for many Israelis but the Palestinians aren’t going anywhere. Just as we fought for millennia through hardships to reach our promised land they have fought just as hard and will continue to fight just as hard. Robbing any group of people of their right to self determination is a non starter that deserves the highest level of criticism.

There seems to be a fear and hatred of the phrase Two State Solution in the Israeli public. It should not be political suicide to express support for the only rational solution to this conflict. We should not have opposition leaders like Gantz express support for a “Palestinian Entity” as we slowly move the Overton window away from the term “Palestinian state”. The other day I was debating the conflict with my Orthodox Cousin, explaining the history as best I could and after a 3 hour discussion and making true to the phrase “Two Jews Three Opinions” she ultimately indirectly conceded. “Listen Jonah I think they should be able to have control over themselves in their own area separate from Israel, preferably in the West Bank”. When I quickly sputtered out “That’s literally a state” she then uttered the words that inspired this Op-Ed. “Yeah I know but I can’t say that, there’s such a stigma around that word”. We don’t have to live like this, fearful of the judgement of others that exists under civility politics. The same system that let hateful ideology’s festered unchecked in America.

I understand the why behind the views of the Israeli public. I understand the uncertainness of a post 10/7 world that’s plagued both the diaspora as well as Israel. I understand the betrayal felt when Arafat declined Taba with no counter offers during the 2nd Intifada. I understand the why behind the hesitancy to advocate for a Palestinian state at this time but a universal truth is that there’s no contradiction in believing in both Palestinian self determination and Israeli security. The more the Israeli public and we as Jews play this vague game when referring to a solution to Palestinian statehood the more likely the popularity behind proposals that disgrace Israel’s founding principals will continue to grow.

As Passover begins and we’re reminded of our people’s struggles throughout history we must remind ourselves of the second half of the popular saying that’s declared by the end of this joyous time.

Next year in Jerusalem… may we all be free.