A Two-State Solution Has Never Been More Vital
Israeli settlements in the West Bank and ongoing violence in Gaza make a two-state solution more important than ever, write Mary Robinson and Helen Clark.
The need for a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine has never been more urgent, according to a recent visit to the West Bank and Gaza. Expanding illegal Israeli settlements and ongoing violence in Gaza make a stable peace more vital than ever. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies threaten Palestine's political, cultural, economic, and physical existence, as seen by the travelers.
The horrors of life in Gaza are compounded by the expansion of settlements and the territorial carve-up of the West Bank. These outposts, despite being illegal under Israeli law, are actively protected by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The result is the physical separation of Palestinian communities and their land, disrupting the possibility of a future Palestinian state.
The E1 settlement plan, proposed decades ago, presents a significant red line, threatening the territorial contiguity of a Palestinian state. This and other Israeli policies, such as the construction of settlements in East Jerusalem and Gaza, are seen as an attempt at conquest and ethnic cleansing. International organizations like the European Union, despite considering Israeli settlements illegal, continue to trade with Israel and fail to impose sanctions on extremist ministers, demonstrating a lack of political will to prevent the erosion of a two-state solution.
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