Two-State Delusion

Syllabus Areas:

GS II - International Relations

Though the idea of the two-state solution remains popular internationally, in reality, it has never materialised for Palestinians.The Israel-Palestine conflict is one of the longest-running and most complex geopolitical disputes.

  • UNGA Resolution 181 (1947) intended two states—Israel and Palestine - one Jewish, one Arab (Palestinian), on historic Palestine.
  • Israel was established in 1948, but Palestinian statehood remains unrealized, despite multiple peace attempts (e.g., Oslo Accords, Camp David, etc.).

Who are Jews?

Jews are an ethno-religious group with a shared heritage based on:

  • Religion: Judaism
  • Ethnicity: Common ancestry (from ancient Hebrews/Israelites)
  • Cultural identity: Jewish traditions, customs, and language (like Hebrew and Yiddish)
  • Territory: Israel, Jerusalem

Who are Palestines?

The Palestinians are the indigenous Arab people of the region known historically as Palestine, encompassing the modern-day territories of:

  • The West Bank
  • Gaza Strip
  • East Jerusalem

They are ethnically Arab and mostly Muslim, though significant Christian and minority communities (such as Druze and Samaritans) also identify as Palestinians.

Two State Theory:

  • After the Balfour Declaration (1917), Britain promised to establish a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine.
  • This created growing tension with the indigenous Arab population, who also demanded independence.
  • By the 1930s, Britain realized a single unified state might be unworkable

Peel Commission Report – 1937 (First official Two-State Proposal):

British Government’s Peel Commission was the first to formally propose partition.

Suggested:

  • Creation of separate Jewish and Arab states
  • A small area, including Jerusalem, would remain under British control.

This is considered the first concrete evolution of the Two-State Theory.

UN Partition Plan – Resolution 181 (1947):

Adopted by the UN General Assembly on November 29, 1947.

Proposed:

  • Jewish State on ~56%
  • Arab State on ~44%.
  • Jerusalem as an international city (corpus separatum).

Aftermath of UN Resolution 181:

  1. Civil War (1947–1948):
    • Massive violence erupted between Jews and Arabs in Palestine.
    • Both communities engaged in armed attacks, retaliations, and expulsions.
  2. 1948 Arab-Israeli War:
    • After Israel’s declaration of independence (May 14, 1948), five Arab nations invaded: Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq.
    • Israel survived, expanded its territory beyond the UN-proposed borders.
    • The Palestinian Arab state was never established.
  3. Nakba ("Catastrophe") – 1948:
    • Over 700,000 Palestinians were displaced or fled.
    • Villages were destroyed, and many became refugees — the beginning of the Palestinian refugee crisis
Two-State Delusion

The ‘Two Israel States’ Reality

  • Ironically, two states do exist, but both are controlled by Israel:
    • First State: Official Israel (on 78% of Palestine).
    • Second State: A settler-messianic Halakha state rising on the 22% (i.e., the 1967-occupied territories).
  • This second entity has semi-autonomous settler governance (e.g., Yesha Council, Shomron), militia, and budget — functioning as a parallel theocracy.

Diplomatic Hypocrisy & Genocidal Rhetoric

  • Israeli officials and U.S. allies increasingly deny Palestinian existence (e.g., “there are no Palestinians”).
  • Despite ongoing violence and settler expansion, the international community remains passive, offering no real accountability.

Palestinian Concessions vs. Israeli Aggression

  • Oslo Accords marked a major Palestinian compromise — accepting a state on just 22% of historic Palestine.
  • But the dream of even this minimal statehood is being suffocated by Israeli settlement expansion and military control.

What are the Oslo Accords?

The Oslo Accords refer to a series of landmark agreements between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in the 1990s, aimed at resolving the Israeli–Palestinian conflict through a two-state solution. They marked the first time both parties mutually recognized each other and agreed to negotiate directly.

Double Standards in Sanctions

  • The world imposed 16,500 sanctions on Russia post-Ukraine war.
  • Yet, no meaningful sanction has been imposed on Israel, despite the death toll exceeding 54,000 Palestinians.
  • Unconditional support for Israel (especially military/intelligence aid) continues.

Prelims Questions:

  1. With reference to the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181 (1947), which of the following statements is/are correct?
    1. It proposed the creation of separate Jewish and Arab states in historic Palestine.
    2. Jerusalem was to be placed under a special international administration.
    3. The Arab League unanimously supported the resolution.

    2. Select the correct answer using the code below:

    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 2 and 3 only
    3. 1 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3

    Answer: A

    Explanation:

    • Statement 1 is correct: UNGA Resolution 181 proposed the two-state solution with separate Jewish and Arab states.
    • Statement 2 is correct: Jerusalem was to be under international administration (corpus separatum).
    • Statement 3 is incorrect: The Arab League and Palestinian leadership rejected the resolution.
  2. Consider the following statements regarding recent developments in the Israel-Palestine conflict:
    1. The idea of the "Halakha State" refers to a growing settler-led messianic entity within the occupied Palestinian territories.
    2. The international community has imposed comprehensive arms embargoes on Israel due to settlement expansion.
    3. The two-state solution was originally proposed in the Balfour Declaration.

    Which of the above is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 1 and 2 only
    3. 1 and 3 only
    4. 2 and 3 only

    Answer: A

    Explanation:

    • Statement 1 is correct: The "Halakha State" refers to an emerging parallel settler-messianic structure in the West Bank, supported by Israeli policy.
    • Statement 2 is incorrect: There are no major arms embargoes imposed on Israel by major powers; military aid continues.
    • Statement 3 is incorrect: The Balfour Declaration (1917) supported a Jewish national home, but didn’t propose a two-state solution.

    Mains Question:

    1. “Without justice, there can be no peace.” In the context of the Israel-Palestine conflict, discuss. 150 Words 10 Marks