UW
Panel Discusses Mideast Territorial Borders
Division would create boundaries along Israeli, Palestinian
population lines
By
Courtney Clement
A
bi-national state with new territorial divisions between Palestine
and Israel was the route to peace proposed during a discussion
held Thursday at Memorial Union.
"We
thought it was important to start discussion of these ideas
as soon as possible," said Arthur Glenberg, a UW-Madison
professor of psychology and moderator of the panel, when explaining
the timing of the presentation.
The
plan outlines a land division and subsequent political bodies
for Palestine and Israel, considering each in terms of their
specific aspirations and concerns. Areas that are predominantly
Israeli would be delegated to Israel and Palestinian areas to
Palestine.
Concerns
such as the right to return of Palestinians living in exile
and Israeli concerns regarding identity and the character of
the Jewish state were also dealt with in the allocation of territory.
Politically,
the plan differs significantly from the two-state theory en
vogue by advocating a bi-national state that would have separate,
sovereign states for Palestinians and Israelis that would then
be united under a common economic and political unions.
These
measures would be a stepping stone to the larger goal of creating
a community across borders, according to Thursday's panel.
"The
purpose of this proposal is to give access to all people to
the whole country so that lines become less relevant,"
said Nasser Abufarha, author of the discussed plan and panel
member.
The
methodology of the proposal, which dealt with the practicality
of divisions based on population density, possibilities of territory
for habitation and natural resources, was praised by those present.
"It
would be nice to see these same principles used in other parts
of the world," said panelist Jonathan Graubart from Jewish
Voices Against the Occupation.
Some
concerns were raised though regarding the plan's feasibility.
Panelist
Bruce Saposnik cited the desire of Jews for their own state
for security reasons - the initiative behind the creation of
Israel - as not being dealt with sufficiently.
"I
am not sure that this proposal meets this need [for security]
or that the world has changed enough that this need is no longer
necessary," he said.
The
proposal was cited as a positive addition to the debate on potential
resolutions to the conflict.
Panelist
and UW-Madison Professor Mohammad Douglah said he saw the need
for overcoming a need to blame.
"Does
it really matter who shoots first in an environment where all
people have suffered and continue to suffer?" he said.
