Mideast Solution: A Confederation

[idontwantaname]

Mideast Solution: A Confederation

By Josef Avesar
PHOTO

The Palestinians and the Israelis seem to agree on one thing: that the other is at fault. Each side wants recognition by the other that they are innocent victims, that the other side is wrong. Each side demands that the other relinquish crucial aspects of its identity.

In such a situation, the best solution is to concentrate on a pragmatic approach that will benefit both peoples, yet not impinge on the sovereignty of either the Jewish state or its Palestinian counterpart. Such an approach may lay the groundwork for peace, by focusing on joint decision making on non-politically charged issues.

For some time now, the Israel-Palestinian Confederation (IPC) has pursued this option. It believes that one possible solution involves electing a confederation government comprised of Israelis (both Jewish and Arab) and Palestinians. How exactly would such a confederation work? Approximately 10 million people live in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza: 6 million are Jews, and 4 million are Arabs. Dividing the entire region into 300 districts apportioned by population should result in a legislature divided approximately 60/40 in favor of the Israelis. However, if the relative birth rates of Palestinians to Israelis maintain its current ratio, in the not too distant future, Palestinians will outnumber Israelis.

The legislature will tackle issues that the Israeli and Palestinian governments, for internal political reasons, find difficult to address. The legislature will also deal with the day-to-day quality of life issues where cooperation is required including, but certainly not limited to, locating public facilities such as water lines, highways, schools and hospitals.

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http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/searchview.php?id=16719


Israeli-born Josef Avesar practices law in Encino and is founder of the Israeli-Palestinian Confederation.

[IntiRaymi]

1. VERY interesting statement concerning demographics:

Approximately 10 million people live in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza: 6 million are Jews, and 4 million are Arabs. Dividing the entire region into 300 districts apportioned by population should result in a legislature divided approximately 60/40 in favor of the Israelis. However, if the relative birth rates of Palestinians to Israelis maintain its current ratio, in the not too distant future, Palestinians will outnumber Israelis.

Demographics are the be-all and end-all to all of these conflicts. If Iran continues to make threats, the idea of Israel as a safe haven will vaporize in gradual increments, further erasing the idea of Israel as being a safe haven for jews everywhere. The result of this will be fewer and fewer jewish people willing to go live in this potential cinderbox, where one must live in constant fear of a nuclear attack by some foe, or a random Qassam raining on their heads.

What my amateurish mind sees here are the following:

(a) Israel & P.A. make honest, good willed peace with each other, thereby defusing the middle east, and pacifying arabs in the whole world.

(b) The religious reasoning that considers these arid wastelands as some sort of sacrosanct 'holy land' disappears, and an epidemic of rationality breaks out, leading to everlasting peace in the region.

(c) World hunger disappears, and all diseases are cured.

[pelsar]

2. spilled my coffee on that one....

(b) The religious reasoning that considers these arid wastelands as some sort of sacrosanct 'holy land' disappears, and an epidemic of rationality breaks out, leading to everlasting peace in the region.
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that would probably require removing most of the local populations leaving just the UN personal, some intls and a couple of tourists who got on the wrong plane....

[IntiRaymi]

3. The Onion had a headline about the West Bank:

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/28369

Northern Irish, Serbs, Hutus Granted Homeland In West Bank



UNITED NATIONS–In a bold gambit hoped to resolve dozens of conflicts around the world, the U.N. announced Monday the establishment of Ethniklashistan, a multinational haven in the West Bank that will serve as a new homeland for Irish Protestants, Hutus, Serbs, and other troubled groups."For far too long, these groups have been locked in prolonged strife with their former neighbors, unable to achieve a lasting peace," U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said. "Now that these various peoples have a new homeland where they can find refuge, all the years of fighting and bloodshed can finally be put behind them."
Former Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic, now presiding over a Serb settlement near the Jordanian border, was optimistic about the future. "All Muslim scum must die," he said. "Death to all enemies of Serbian purity!"

etc., etc.

[UndertheOcean]

4. Now thats really funny , ROFL!!!

Thanks