One State Plan - Questions and Answers

One State Plan: A Democratic Jewish State

Questions and Answers

The One State Plan is being analyzed by many groups in Israel and abroad. Some of their comments are examined below. Forward your questions and input and they may be posted.
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Q. What will be the most potent weapon against the existence of the State of Israel?
A. “Fatah believes that the Zionist movement constitutes the biggest threat against not only the Palestinian national security but also against the security of the Arab world. It also believes that a legitimate Palestinian entity forms the most important weapon that Arabs have against Israel, the outpost of the imperialist powers.”

Q. What about Gaza? What will be the status of Gaza?
A. In the fall of 2003, we suggested that in Phase I, Gaza not be considered and that only the West Bank (Yehudah and Shomron) be annexed. For now Gaza is no longer an issue.

Q. Does Jordan want a Palestinian neighbor?
A. King Abdallah of Jordan calls PM Sharon once a month. Same day of the month, same time. He reminds Sharon of his promise to never allow Jordan to have a Palestinian neighbor. The King wants to be sure that Israel retains the Jordan Valley. Surely, neither does Israel need a Palestinian neighbor.

Q. What about demographics?
A. People believed that there were between 2.4 and 2.6 million Arabs living on the West Bank exclusive of Jerusalem. These numbers were based on PA reported data and the public statements by "experts" such as Arnon Soffer and Sergio della Pergolla. The ICBS (Israel Central Bureau of Statistics) per the Oslo Accords has honored its obligation to refrain from collecting statistical information or data after 1995. Israeli "experts" relied entirely on PA statistics and forecasts. Informal inquiries made in 2003, suggested that there were many fewer Arabs living on the West Bank and the Plan was originally introduced using the number of 2.1 million Arabs on the West Bank. Recently, it has been conclusively established that there are fewer than 1.4 million Arabs living on the West Bank. The result of that study led by Bennett Zimmerman was initially presented to the AEI in Washingtom in January 2005 and may be found on their web site . In my estimation, even that number is an exaggeration based on undocumented but anecdotal evidence that several hundred thousand Arabs have fled the region entirely and many have migrated to the Israel side of the wall and green line in order to escape PA rule. Not only is the absolute number of Arabs less than previously imagined, but their rate of growth is significantly lower than previously stated and the population ratio of Jews to Arabs in Israel and the West Bank has remained constant at 2 to 1 over the past 40 years. Numerous models demonstrate that going forward that ratio can expand in favor of the Jewish population.

Q. Great idea, but shouldn't it have been implemented in 1967?
A. The errors made in in 1967 are understandable. Israel was a teenager, barely nineteen years old, and had not reached maturity in many arenas. The risks involved in annexing the West Bank were severely over-estimated and the long-term risks of maintaining the staus quo were not properly analyzed.
Today, Israel is a world class enterprise in many of the most important 21st century arenas: science, medicine, high-tech, communications, electronics, bio-tech, etc. In 1967 Israel barely had 2 million Jews. Today it has 5.5 million Jews and has reached a critical mass in many respects. It no longer needs to feel existentially threatened. Nonetheless, it is still behaving like an uncertain teenager and is refusing to confront important issues. It has tentatively decided to hide behind walls and fences. It is terrified by non-existent demographic demons and refuses to stand up and declare itself to be a successful Jewish State able to overcome challenges.

Q. Will the Arabs give up their dream to have an independent Palestinian state?
A 1. There is already a demographically Palestinian state. Jordan is variously estimated to be between 70-90% Palestinian Arab. It would be inexcusable to create a second Palestinian state.
A 2. The dream of a Palestinian state is a relatively recent creation which attempted to mimic the long term Zionist dream and need for a secure Jewish State. There are already 22 Arab states and 56 Islamic republics. There is no need for another non-viable entity to be superimposed on a tiny piece of resource poor land.
A 3. As mentioned above, Arabs since 1967 have been migrating into Israel in the hundreds of thousands. In recent years, given a choice of living in Israel or under PA rule they universally choose Israel. Furthermore, there is no evidence, whatsoever, of Israeli Arabs moving into West Bank Zone A areas or to Gaza. To the contrary, thousands of requests have been submitted by Arabs who want to live on the Israel side of the wall. No one has requested to be on the PA side of the wall. Indeed, any intimation that Arab areas within Israel will be transferred to the PA, raises a universal and hysterical objection from any and all Arabs living in Israel. Why? Where is the dream of living in a PA State?
A 4. Arabs have asked, why did you do this to us? Why in 1994 did you bring a gang of criminals and corrupt people from Tunisia and Yemen etc. to destroy our communities and lives? You have placed us in an intolerable situation. The vast majority of Arabs want to live in peace and tranquility and would be delighted if the threat of creating a terrorist state next door was removed.

Q. What is the LIKUD party platform position on One State vs Two States?
A. The Likud party platform adopted in 1999 says:
Self-Rule
The Government of Israel flatly rejects the establishment of a Palestinian Arab state west of the Jordan River. The Palestinians can run their lives freely in the framework of self-rule, but not as an independent and sovereign state. Thus, for example, in matters of foreign affairs, security, immigration and ecology, their activity shall be limited in accordance with imperatives of Israel's existence, security and national needs.
The Jordan River as a Permanent Border
The Jordan Valley and the territories that dominate it shall be under Israeli sovereignty. The Jordan River will be the permanent eastern border of the State of Israel. The Kingdom of Jordan is a desirable partner in the permanent status arrangement between Israel and the Palestinians in matters that will be agreed upon.

Q. According to the Halacha (Jewish religious law), can Arabs become citizens of Israel?
A. That question has already been answered. There are already over one million Arab citizens of the State of Israel. There is no distinction between an Arab living in Haifa and an Arab living in Shechem.

Q. What is Sharon's current plan for Israel?
A. After the March election, Sharon's reported plan is to order a unilateral withdrawal from more than 90% of Judea and Samaria. The pullout would be accompanied by a pledge of an additional withdrawal, as well as full Palestinian independence, once the PA dismantles terrorist groups and maintains security cooperation with Israel. Sources say that a version of the plan has already been drafted by Israel's National Security Council. Though Sharon has denied that he plans any further disengagements, he has pledged to "lay the foundation for a peace in which we set the permanent borders of the state, while insisting on the dismantling of the terror organizations."

Q. What is the demographic breakdown of Israel's current population?
A. The year-end 2004 ICBS census reports for green line Israel the following numbers (note, that it appears that the ICBS does not properly count illegal arab migration from the West Bank to green line Israel:
grand total (in thousands) - 6869.5; of which
Jews & others - 5529.3
Arabs - 1340.2
Subgroups include: 264.6 - religion unclassified; 113 - druze; 27.1 non-Arab Christians; 117.3- Arab Christians; 144.4 - total Christians; 1107.4 - Moslems; 5237.6 - Jews.

Q. Can Israel politicians ever agree to District representation?
A. Haaretz recently reported that Ariel Sharon, if re-elected to a third term, may press for a change in Israel's system of government to a "presidential system," in which the prime minister would be elected directly, and members of Knesset would be elected according to regions of the country. "The greatest thing that this party can do for the country," Meir Sheetrit said Sunday, "is to change the system of government."
Under the present system, political parties form national lists of candidates, and voters cast a single vote for one party. The party with the largest number of total votes generally forms the government, with the leader of the party becoming prime minister. A comprehensive presidential-regional system "will prompt stability in government and a much stronger connection between elected officials and those who elected them."
If members of Knesset are chosen from regions "only people whom the voters want will be elected, not those whom the party central committees want. This would make a most serious contribution to the quality of government in Israel."

Q. What are the origins of the PA? When did the PLO start?
A. The PLO was formed well before the June 1967 "occupation" of the West Bank. Its agenda was confirmed by the Palestinian Charter's call to end the State of Israel. That mission has never been rescinded by the PA. Fatah, as a political organization, was established in 1957 when it issued its first statement calling for military struggle. In the period 1959 to 1964, Fatah published a magazine called ‘Our Palestine’. Eight years of organizing, recruiting, and raising awareness preceded the first military operation. The military wing of Fatah issued its first statement on January 1st, 1965.

Q. A majority of Israelis and Americans have accepted the Road Map and a two state solution. It must be correct!
A. In the 1930's the "peace now" pacifist people in Poland, Czechslovakia, France, and all over Europe and the USA were convinced that the way to deal with Hitler was to appease him! Give him some land and peace would follow! Aristotelians knew how physics and the world worked for 2000 years. The experts were convinced that the world was definitely flat. The experts confirmed that the Nasdaq at 5100 in 2000 was headed straight to 10,000. The Nikkei at 39,000 in December 1989, went straight to 11,000 in 2003. Let’s not get confused by “experts” or majority or concensus opinions!! Let's critically examine new alternatives.

Q. Isn't the One State Plan just what occured in Lebanon?" There the Christian majority failed to preserve a predominate presence in the government, with Sunni, Shia and other Christian minorities in subordinate posts.
A. The arrival of Palestinian terrorist groups in the 1970's certainly helped destabilize a shaky shared cotango Lebanese government. It is very dangerous to make political analogies from Lebanon, or Switzerland, or Beneklux or from any one country to another. The differences in time, history, society, education, military infrastructure, state of the world, etc. make it essential to learn from history and the local environment, but do not predetermine outcomes and do not force policy decisions. Lebanon to date done has done a terrible job of preserving its independence and allowing Hizballah and other resident terror organizations is certainly not a model for Israel. With regard to understanding Lebanon's local politics, Israel leaders once again demonstrated extreme naivete!!

Q. Where could West Bank Arabs relocate?
A. Jordan has 34,800 sq. mi (89,206 sq. km) with fewer than 5 million people. More than enough room to absorb Palestinian "refugees" languishing in the UNWRA camps in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, the West Bank and Gaza.
Saudi Arabia has 865,000 sq. mi (2,240,000 sq. km) with fewer than 25 million people, certainly there is plenty of room in the southwestern portion of that country.
There are numerous other sparsely populated Arab and/or Moslem countries such as Libya with 678,400 sq. mi (1,757,000 sq. km) and barely 5 million people that with appropriate incentives and with Israeli and international assistance become home to West Bank Arabs who do not want to live in a democratic Jewish State.
Do not forget that the One State Plan is not suggesting forced transfer or enmass population relocation. It simply suggests that attractive options with financial incentives should be available for West Bank Arabs.

Q. Can the tendency to radical Islam and Jihadism be uprooted in the One State Plan?
A. Every country has the reponsibility to protect its citizens. Unlawful activity and violence cannot be condoned in any civilized society. Long-term, education and reform must be the highest priorities in all of the Districts. In Two State plans, the issue becomes entirely uncontrollable and Israel will be at the mercy of a hostile regime in its backyard west of the Jordan River, sworn to its destruction. It is not enough for Israel to rattle its sabers and warn against terrorism. Israel must remain in full control of all areas in close proximity to Israel's coastal regions.

Q. What about relations with contiguous Arab neighbors - Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt - and the overarching threat of Iran?
A. Removing the threat of a terrorist Palestinian State on its border will allow Israel to focus on regional issues and cooperation. Iran is a problem under any scenario. But it is certainly not in Israel's interest to create in its backyard a terrorist state friendly to Iran.

Q. Doesn't Hamas look forward to living side by side with a democratic Jewish State?
A. The Hamas Covenant of 1988 has not yet been changed or edited:
Article Thirty-Two: World Zionism, together with imperialistic powers, try through a studied plan and an intelligent strategy to remove one Arab state after another from the circle of struggle against Zionism, in order to have it finally face the Palestinian people only. Egypt was, to a great extent, removed from the circle of the struggle, through the treacherous Camp David Agreement. They are trying to draw other Arab countries into similar agreements and to bring them outside the circle of struggle. The Islamic Resistance Movement calls on Arab and Islamic nations to take up the line of serious and persevering action to prevent the success of this horrendous plan, to warn the people of the danger eminating from leaving the circle of struggle against Zionism. Today it is Palestine, tomorrow it will be one country or another. The Zionist plan is limitless. After Palestine, the Zionists aspire to expand from the Nile to the Euphrates. When they will have digested the region they overtook, they will aspire to further expansion, and so on. Their plan is embodied in the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion", and their present conduct is the best proof of what we are saying. Leaving the circle of struggle with Zionism is high treason, and cursed be he who does that. "for whoso shall turn his back unto them on that day, unless he turneth aside to fight, or retreateth to another party of the faithful, shall draw on himself the indignation of Allah, and his abode shall be hell; an ill journey shall it be thither." (The Spoils - verse 16). There is no way out except by concentrating all powers and energies to face this Nazi, vicious Tatar invasion. The alternative is loss of one's country, the dispersion of citizens, the spread of vice on earth and the destruction of religious values. Let every person know that he is responsible before Allah, for "the doer of the slightest good deed is rewarded in like, and the does of the slightest evil deed is also rewarded in like." The Islamic Resistance Movement consider itself to be the spearhead of the circle of struggle with world Zionism and a step on the road. The Movement adds its efforts to the efforts of all those who are active in the Palestinian arena. Arab and Islamic Peoples should augment by further steps on their part; Islamic groupings all over the Arab world should also do the same, since all of these are the best-equipped for the future role in the fight with the warmongering Jews. "..and we have put enmity and hatred between them, until the day of resurrection. So often as they shall kindle a fire of war, Allah shall extinguish it; and they shall set their minds to act corruptly in the earth, but Allah loveth not the corrupt doers." (The Table - verse 64).