10-21-2015, 09:15 PM
The lands which the proto-state of Palestine occupy and claim (primarily the West Bank and the Gaza Strip) were lands which were originally set aside for a Palestinian state in 1948. The lands were claimed by neighboring Arab nations (primarily Egypt and Jordan) for their military assistance in the 1948 war. The neighboring nations occupied the lands as part of their sovereign territory until 1967, when the Israelis took the areas during the Six Day War. Israel occupied the lands afterwards and allowed some of their citizens to settle in the areas.
After the 1979 Israeli-Egypt Peace Treaty, Israel removed its military and settlers from the Sinai and the Gaza Strip. The Israelis administered the area until 1994, when the Palestinian Authority was to take over administration. The Palestinian Authority was believed to have spoken for all of the Palestinians at that time and granting of administrative control was based upon the PA recognizing Israel's right to exist in peace. That original agreement was broken, however, when Hamas broke off from the PA and took control of the Gaza Strip. Hamas does not recognize Israel's right to exist in peace. The status of the Gaza Strip is still in flux. Gaza's water supply, electricity and communications infrastructure are all provided by Israel and Israel and Egypt are their main trading partners.
The history of the West Bank is more convoluted. Israel has annexed some parts of the West bank and holds administrative and military control over large swaths which cut up the terrain and limits the travel of people in the area. They allowed a limited number of settlers and settlements in the area prior to the 2000's, presumably pending a potential withdraw of military and settlers from the area similar to the Gaza Strip after the Oslo Accords. However, new settlements skyrocketed in the area after Hamas came to power in the Gaza Strip. The settlements and Israeli presence in the West Bank are viewed as the biggest obstacle in negotiations between the PA and Israel. It is believed that Israel is using the settlements to force the PA to bring Gaza back under their control rather than under Hamas' control. Most other nations have claimed that the settlements are illegal under international law.
The solution for peace in the area is actually quite simple:
1) The Palestinians need to unite under a single leadership which recognizes Israel's right to exist in peace. Why? Because the Israelis hold all the cards in the area and it is ultimately what they want. This would also require that the Palestinians make sure that all attacks against Israel from Palestinians cease for a long enough period of time to show good faith.
2) Israel needs to remove all of its settlers and military from the West Bank to pre-1967 borders. If Israel wants the nations to recognize their claim, they need to recognize the original "Two State Solution" proposed by the U.N.
3) As a sign of good faith, Israel should take an active interest in developing the nascent Palestinian state by taking the U.S. aid money provided through the Camp David accord and using it to develop infrastructure in the West Bank and Gaza (roads, trains, seaports, airports, etc.). The original U.N. plan was that the two nations could be economically linked; a sort of "peace through shared prosperity"plan. I still think this is the best plan for everyone involved.
After the 1979 Israeli-Egypt Peace Treaty, Israel removed its military and settlers from the Sinai and the Gaza Strip. The Israelis administered the area until 1994, when the Palestinian Authority was to take over administration. The Palestinian Authority was believed to have spoken for all of the Palestinians at that time and granting of administrative control was based upon the PA recognizing Israel's right to exist in peace. That original agreement was broken, however, when Hamas broke off from the PA and took control of the Gaza Strip. Hamas does not recognize Israel's right to exist in peace. The status of the Gaza Strip is still in flux. Gaza's water supply, electricity and communications infrastructure are all provided by Israel and Israel and Egypt are their main trading partners.
The history of the West Bank is more convoluted. Israel has annexed some parts of the West bank and holds administrative and military control over large swaths which cut up the terrain and limits the travel of people in the area. They allowed a limited number of settlers and settlements in the area prior to the 2000's, presumably pending a potential withdraw of military and settlers from the area similar to the Gaza Strip after the Oslo Accords. However, new settlements skyrocketed in the area after Hamas came to power in the Gaza Strip. The settlements and Israeli presence in the West Bank are viewed as the biggest obstacle in negotiations between the PA and Israel. It is believed that Israel is using the settlements to force the PA to bring Gaza back under their control rather than under Hamas' control. Most other nations have claimed that the settlements are illegal under international law.
The solution for peace in the area is actually quite simple:
1) The Palestinians need to unite under a single leadership which recognizes Israel's right to exist in peace. Why? Because the Israelis hold all the cards in the area and it is ultimately what they want. This would also require that the Palestinians make sure that all attacks against Israel from Palestinians cease for a long enough period of time to show good faith.
2) Israel needs to remove all of its settlers and military from the West Bank to pre-1967 borders. If Israel wants the nations to recognize their claim, they need to recognize the original "Two State Solution" proposed by the U.N.
3) As a sign of good faith, Israel should take an active interest in developing the nascent Palestinian state by taking the U.S. aid money provided through the Camp David accord and using it to develop infrastructure in the West Bank and Gaza (roads, trains, seaports, airports, etc.). The original U.N. plan was that the two nations could be economically linked; a sort of "peace through shared prosperity"plan. I still think this is the best plan for everyone involved.
![[Image: 416686247_404249095282684_84217049823664...e=659A7198]](https://scontent.fphx1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/416686247_404249095282684_8421704982366424390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3635dc&_nc_ohc=p8hMrwwk1IoAX8mnFLJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fphx1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBXs4gKHr4knFejO874dfV3zzLd_bq4GiUqHxGWFlwbug&oe=659A7198)
