The two-legislature solution: What do ‘they’ want?

In previous posts I have compared the viability of the main Israel-Palestine peace proposals.  I have purposely not included proposals that are based on the expulsion or annihilation of one of the two main ethnicities involved as I do not believe the world would stand by and allow another Shoah, especially in the land of Israel. But in 75 plus years that peace has been discussed, why has it been impossible to achieve? Each side continuously asks, “What do ‘they’ want?” And then, instead of asking the “other” what they want, each side presents what they believe the “other” wants, calls it unacceptable, and uses it as an excuse to maintain the status quo.

The Two-Legislature Solution addresses the main conundrum of a shared land with citizenship available to all, a democratic form of government, and a guarantee of Jewish political and cultural parity. Neither Jews nor non-Jews will need to maintain a demographic majority in order that Israel remain a democracy. Because the two legislative houses will be equal, they must work together regardless of the demographics because they will always need votes from the other house to pass the budget, approve nominations, and oversee executive actions.

But the Two-Legislature Solution also delivers on subsidiary wants expressed by parties within the two sides. To wit:

• Jerusalem will remain the eternal, undivided capital of Israel-Palestine.
• The Israeli Security System including the IDF will maintain security control of the whole of Israel-Palestine.
• The Right of Return for Jews to Israel will include historical Judea and Samaria.
• The Right of Return for Palestinian refugees will include all areas of Israel-Palestine.
• Palestinian refugees who choose not to return will be compensated for their lost and/or damaged property.
• All residents who swear allegiance to the State of Israel as a democratic, non-racist country that is the eternal home of the Jewish people and renounce armed struggle against the people or State of Israel will have full citizenship including the right to vote.
• Freedom of movement using one set of infrastructure will be assured for all Israeli citizens.
• All citizens will be able to choose where they live, whether in groupings of their preferred ethnic identities or in mixed areas.
• All citizens will be able to choose where they will work without fear of discriminatory hiring practices.
• Access to the Holy Places in Jerusalem and elsewhere will be available to all Israeli citizens, as overseen by joint religious authorities and both houses of the legislature.
• With the end of the conflict, the need for soldiers in the military will be greatly reduced, meaning that a universal draft will no longer be required.
• With the end of the conflict, the judicial branch of the government of Israel will assume authority over those areas previously administered by the military and all residents will have access to the courts on an equal basis with all of the protections afforded under the law.

The consequences of peace also will result in economic expansion and greater opportunity for all of the children born in the land from the river to the sea.