What Are the Chances of a Two-State Solution to Israel-Gaza War?

What's the story?

• Observers and leaders have long called for a two-state solution to the ongoing tension and violence between Israel and Palestine. Still, experts believe the Hamas attack has reduced the chances of peaceful future co-existence.

What is a two-state solution?

• The two-state solution is a proposed framework for resolving the conflict between Israel and Palestine by establishing separate states for the two peoples. In 1993, the Israeli government and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) agreed on a plan to implement a two-state solution as part of the Oslo Accords. The negotiations showed promise initially but soon broke down, followed by the outbreak of violence in 2000.
• In theory, a two-state solution would provide the Palestinians autonomy over their own state and would allow Israel to retain an ethnic and religious majority in its own state. 

Chances of a two-state solution?

• According to a Pew Research Center poll in the spring of this year, only about one in three Israelis believed peaceful co-existence between two states was possible, which marked a 15% point decrease from a decade ago.
• The poll showed that only one in four Palestinians favored a two-state solution. Experts believe the level of support has drastically fallen following the Hamas attack on Oct. 7 and the rising death toll from the Israeli siege of Gaza.
• Israel's current government is its most far-right yet, with most leaders vocally opposed to a two-state solution or political compromises that could impact the security of Israel.

Calls for a two-state solution

• Biden has recently called for a two-state solution:

"Hamas can't continue to terrorize Israeli citizens...When this crisis is over there has to be a vision of what comes next, and in our view it has to be a two-state solution." 

• Rishi Sunak met with the leader of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, where he reiterated his support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. A spokesperson for Sunak said:

"The prime minister reiterated the UK's longstanding commitment to the two-state solution and to achieving a future where Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security."

• In a meeting with Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, China's President Xi Jinping called for a ceasefire. He has argued that a two-state solution is the "fundamental way out" of the conflict. Zhai Jun, China's special envoy to the Middle East, is advocating for a two-state solution. He said:

"The fundamental reason for the current situation of the Palestine-Israel conflict is that the Palestinian people's lawful national rights have not been guaranteed."

• Israeli political expert Mairav Zonzsein said:

"The two-state solution is still a good idea. Whether it can be implemented depends on whether the two sides and the international community are willing to put their political capital and energy into making it happen. Many people today do not believe this is possible."

•  Jordan's King Abdullah has stated that he does not believe there will be peace in the region until Palestine has its own state. He said:

"Our region will never be secure nor stable without achieving just and comprehensive peace on the basis of the two-state solution." 

• The EU's position was delineated by the European Council last Tuesday: 

"We are also committed to a peace process for a lasting peace based on a two-state solution, and therefore based on support for the Palestinian Authority." 

Do you support a two-state solution?

-Emma Kansiz

(Photo Credit: Canva)