The Fallacy of the “One State Solution”

For decades, the stated desire of the Palestinian people has been to have their own state on the West Bank and in Gaza. Recently, however, a new focus has emerged which is being propagated by certain so-called Christian “peace” groups like Sabeel. This is the idea of a binational state, encompassing both the territories and Israel. The slogan is “One Land for Two Peoples.”

• Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center (“Sabeel”) portrays itself as a peace organization that respects Israel’s right to exist. But in light of Rev. Naim Ateek’s repeated references to the creation of the modern State of Israel as a “grievous injustice” it is prudent to be wary when Sabeel says that it seeks only peace and justice in the form of a two-state solution . A close look at Sabeel’s writings and statements shows that that wariness is indeed justified, and that the single state solution figures prominently in Sabeel’s agenda.

• In his 1989 book Justice and Only Justice, Rev. Ateek expresses support for a one-state solution. He is quite forthright about the outcome of such a “solution” however -- the destruction of the Jewish State:

I still believe that th[e] [one-state] solution is feasible. It is the best and easiest to implement. . . . . As part of a democratic, binational Palestine, the Jews would eventually become a minority in the country.

But then Ateek states that because of Jewish parochialism and mistrust, the idea must be discarded:

However, in line with the biblical injunctions above, I would have to agree, with Israel to reject it. Israel insists above all on being a Jewish state. . . . Furthermore, many Jews so distrust the Palestinians that they would not wish to consign their future to them. So in spite of all of its attractiveness, the idea of a binational state must be discarded.

• But then in the official 2004 “Jerusalem Sabeel Document,” Rev. Ateek reversed himself and called for a one-state solution:

“two sovereign states, Palestine and Israel, who will enter into confederation or even a federation, possibly with other neighboring countries, where Jerusalem becomes the federal capital. Indeed, the ideal and best solution has always been to envisage ultimately a bi-national state in Palestine-Israel . . . One State for two nations.

A “One State Solution” is a Call for the Annihilation of the Jewish State,

Sugar Coated and Camouflaged Within the Verbiage of Peace and Justice

Sabeel Promotes A One-State Solution

• On February 16, 2007, at a “public hearing”held by the Council for the National Interest, Jeff Halper (a Jewish Israeli and a frequent speaker at Sabeel events) and Naim Ateek addressed the issue of the two state solution. This time, Rev. Ateek took a softer and vaguer approach -- while his Jewish associate took the more overtly anti-Israel position.

• Rev. Ateek stated that, on the one hand, a one state solution might not be fair to the Jewish state but that, on the other hand, a Jewish state cannot be democratic. He also stated that a one state solution would be just, although not merciful. Ateek also said he could support a two state solution as long as it was based on “prior UN Security Council resolutions and international law” (without specifying which resolutions or what international law he was referring to).

• But Jeff Halper said a two state solution was “no longer possible because of Israel's policy of apartheid in the territories. ” Halper then adopted Rev. Ateek’s previous position of a two-state solution being merely an intermediate step en route to a final one state solution -- the federation of Israel/Palestine and neighboring states.

• Finding an Israeli Jew to stand up make Sabeel’s call for a one-state solution does not rehabilitate or defend this position. It does, however, call Sabeel’s motives and tactics into question.

• An article was printed tn the Spring 2007 edition of Cornerstone, Sabeel’s Quarterly magazine, against the “uncritical embrace of the rhetoric of the two-state solution”and supporting “a bi-national future in one state . . . [for] Palestinians and Israelis.”

Is Sabeel’s Vision of a One-State Solution a Christian Vision of Peace and Justice?

Jews Live as Persecuted Minorities in Arab/Muslim Countries

The Only Just Solution is a Two-State Solution

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