RE-FRAMING

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RE-FRAMING

• The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

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Why Should This Conflict Matter To Us?

• The conflict is emblematic
• -- In the Muslim world
• -- In the global community
• -- As the battleground for human rights and
• international law
• -- For Jews.
• The progressive international civil society
  cannot afford to see the Occupation actually win
  and a new apartheid regime emerge.

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(1) The Issue of Exclusivity

• In Israels Framing
• The Land of Israel belongs exclusively to the
  Jewish people Arabs reside there by sufferance
  and not by right.
• There is no other people that has legitimate
  rights or claims.
• In the Human Rights Framing
• Two peoples reside in Israel-Palestine and each
  has rights of self-determination.

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(2) The Conflict

• In Israels Security Framing
• Israel is fighting for its existence. The
  conflict is a win-lose proposition either we
  win or they do.
• Israels policies are based solely on concerns
  for security.
• The Arabs dont want peace the Palestinians are
  our enemies.
• The problem is Arab terrorism.
• AND
• There is no Occupation.

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In The Human Rights Framing

• The Occupation is at the center of the discussion
  and is pro-active.
• Israel is not fighting for its existence
  Palestinians recognize Israeli sovereignty over
  78 of the country the Arab world has offered
  Israel regional integration.
• All attacks on civilians are prohibited (in human
  rights language), whether from non-state (from
  below) or state (from above) actors.
• Israel is the strong party and the Occupying
  Power, not the victim.
• As the strong party, Israel must be held
  accountable.

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(3) Solutions

• In Israels View
• Any solution must leave Israel in control of the
  entire country.
• Israel needs a Palestinian state to relieve
  itself of the Palestinian population.
• But
• Any Palestinian state must be truncated,
  non-viable and semi-sovereign a bantustan.

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In a Sustainable, Human Rights Approach

• A Palestinian state has to be viable and truly
  sovereign, not merely a bantustan.
• Only a win-win approach based on co-existence,
  justice, human rights and international law can
  resolve the conflict.

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Critical Questions of Any Peace Process

• Will this plan really end the Occupation, or is
  it merely a subtle cover for control?
• Does this plan offer a just and sustainable
  peace, or merely an imposed and false quiet?
• Does this plan offer a Palestinian state that is
  territorially, politically and economically
  viable, or merely a prison-state?
• Does this plan address the refugee issue?
• Does this plan offer regional security and
  development?

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THE ROAD AHEADTO A JUST PEACE IN PALESTINE/ISRAEL

• Option 1 (Qualified) Justice
• A VIABLE TWO-STATE SOLUTION
• 78 Israel 22 Palestinian State
• Mutually agreeable settlement of the refugee
  issue after Israel recognizes the Right of Return
  and acknowledges its role in driving out the
  refugees

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THE ROAD AHEADTO A JUST PEACE IN PALESTINE/ISRAEL

• Option 2
• A Threatening (But Real) Possibility
• APARTHEID

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THE ROAD AHEADTO A JUST PEACE IN PALESTINE/ISRAEL

• Option 3
• ONE DEMOCRATIC STATE

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THE ROAD AHEADTO A JUST PEACE IN PALESTINE/ISRAEL

• Option 4
• A REGIONAL CONFEDERATION
• (Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon)

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TWO-STAGE REGIONAL SOLUTIONStage 1
Palestine/Israel (Separate sovereignty from
viability)

• Palestinians accept a state including Gaza,
  85-90 of West Bank and Arab parts of East
  Jerusalem, giving them sovereignty, citizenship
  and membership in the international community
• on condition that, as Stage Two,

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Stage 2 Middle East Union

• The international community guarantees (within
  5-10 years) the emergence of a regional
  confederation.
• Palestinian political identity addressed by the
  creation of a state, yet
• All residents of the Middle East Union allowed to
  live and work throughout the confederation.
• Integrity of each member state respected, while
• Addressing the needs of the Palestinians
  (including refugees) and
• Neutralizing the Occupation.
• An MEU facilitates regional development.