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One Country: A Bold Proposal to End the Israeli-Palestinian Impasse

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Rather than rehashing the same dead arguments on Palestine/Israel or relying on 'blame game' rhetoric, this book offers a refreshing vision of the future: one democratic state for Palestinians and Israeli Jews, living side by side with equal rights. Certainly not a new vision, as the author duly notes, but rarely argued so cogently and with such sound vision for the future. Abunimah draws on successful examples of multi-ethnic states (Belgium, Ireland, South Africa) to shape his argument for a multi-ethnic Palestine-Israel, and to envision how two peoples locked into conflict by decades of oppression might come together.

In his book One Country, Ali Abunimah puts forth a radical proposal toward resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: that of a single secular-democratic state for both Arabs and Jews. While aspects of his argument have merit, particularly his assertion that the destinies of Jews and Arabs have become inextricably intertwined, Abunimah fails to explain how such a plan could be implemented in a way that is acceptable to both groups. Although the book is thought-provoking in that it challenges the reader to imagine an ideal scenario, I simply did not find his argument convincing or plausible.

As Abunimah himself points out, both sides favor a two-state solution, although many Palestinians support a one-state solution over a two-state solution without full sovereignty of the West Bank and Gaza. For Israelis, only the most radical minority calls for what most equate with the destruction of the State of Israel. The book fails to explain how Abunimah's vision could be implemented in spite of the international consensus on a two-state solution and Israel's overwhelming opposition to losing its status as a Jewish state. He also never addresses how such a state could function in the face of such raw tensions without breeding further violence. Finally, while he shows a certain understanding of Jewish fears and insists on maintaining the Law of Return (which grants all Jews the right to immigrate to Israel), he brushes aside the fear that a state with an Arab majority will fail to truly safeguard Jewish rights. It is possible that it would, but at this point, there is not enough trust between the two communities to give Israeli Jews the security to contemplate taking such a risk.

The book provides a rough sketch of what a single state might look like, encompassing either a federalist system or a binational state with two separate government systems (one unified government with seats allocated to each group and separate ones dedicated to cultural/religious affairs). Here, again, there are problems he does not adequately address. In a federalist scenario, what would stop the two sides from continuing to fight over territory and borders? Abunimah's sketch of a binational state sounds good on the surface, but he is essentially describing a confessional government divided along religious/ethnic lines, which has failed disastrously in countries like Lebanon. Power sharing is certainly possible--Abunimah demonstrates this with his description of the Belgian system--but the current situation, with all its explosive tension, more closely resembles Lebanon at present.

Abunimah claims that the failure of Oslo and Camp David are proof that negotiations along the lines of a two-state solution will always end in an impasse. His logic doesn't work, though: the failure of certain flawed proposals does not preclude the possibility of a better proposal appearing in the future.

Still, there is value in reading this book. Unlike many books on the subject, this one devotes a significant part to painting a detailed picture of what true coexistence might look like. Abunimah's vision is unrealistic as an immediate solution to the conflict, but in the very long term, his ideas may become more relevant. As he points out, the demographics are shifting in such a way that Israel will eventually lose its Jewish majority. When that day comes, Israel will be confronted with a very painful dilemma between remaining a Jewish state or a democracy. Binationalism may someday become Israel's only moral option, and in that case, the framework Abunimah lays out is worth examining.

This is a fabulous book, the best book yet on the unitary state which is probably the only solution that could deliver peace to the Israelis and Palestinians.

It is beautifully and elegantly written. Ali Abunimah can write like the best. It surprised me that a man who must feel deeply about this conflict was able to write such an truthful and almost blame-free book. Nothing too nasty - this is a classy guy and his restraint is admirable, making this a potent book. Arabs usually indulge in hyperbole which is a big turn-off to Western audiences, but not this author... if anything, the book is understated. But style is the least of it - what he says is worth saying.

What's different about this book is that he starts down the road of implementation. He actually considers what it would take to achieve a unitary state. He made two excellent suggestions for laying the groundwork for peace that immediately come to mind.

He says that the Palestinians need to articulate a vision that the Jews can accept, along the lines that Mandela used in his struggle - that they see historic Palestine as belonging to everyone who lives there, Jews and Arabs. Sharing! Forget the nonsense about pushing Israel into the sea.

And he says that Israel must not be rewarded for its illegal and aggressive behavior but rather, punished. Right on... it's the only way... make the status quo painful, and offer a more attractive and peaceful alternative.

Any person who is thinking about how to achieve peace between Israelis and Palestinians must read this book. It's the best.

Ali Abunimah's book is excellent. After showing why all partition plans have failed, why Israel's "unilateral disengagement" is a recipe for disaster, Abunimah makes a strong case, based partly on other historical precedents, why a single state for both Jews and Palestinians is the proper solution to this conflict that has played, and continues to play, a major role in world instability. One wonderful thing about the book is Abunimah's discussion of the shared values of the two peoples that could serve as the basis of the single state. Another is his discussion of the growing, albeit still minority, voices for a single state among both Israelis and Palestinians. Written lucidly and in accessible manner, this book is a must read for everyone, and it is an important contribution to the literature that will one day motivate the emergence of the only fully moral solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: a single state for both people based on principles of equality and democracy.

I came into the book committed to a two-country solution; I came out of it convinced that Abunimah is right and we need one fully democratic country in Israel of Palestine. Ali is passionate, honest about the difficulties, and filled with persuasive arguments. He writes openly and intimately, going into detail on how difficult the situation is for all sides, and proposing some very reasonable solutions. I appreciated most his use of the example of apartheid in South Africa. Others have spoken recently of the similarities between Israel and South Africa, but Abunimah goes further, speaking of how the Palestinians themselves now refer to their ghettos as bantustans. Then Abunimah uses this very example to show how we can have real hope for change, even in this most intractable of dilemmas. South Africa now becomes not the pariah state, but the hope for real change in an intractable situation, and real lasting peace. Thank you, Laila el-Haddad, for your groundbreaking blog from Gaza, to let me know of this book. Thank you Ali Abunimah for being courageous enough to speak that which dare not be named, to suggest that the original ideas had some merit, and to go beyond the rhetoric to bring us hope.

This is an excellent in depth and critical analysis of the palestine-israel conflict. Abunimah presented historical and practical facts that supports his logical conclusion for a long term solution of one state with one man one vote.

I plead with anyone who has been concerned with the struggle in Palestine-Israel to read this amazing book. In a very low-key way, Abunimah points out that the two populations are inextricably intertwined, both by geography and the cultural similarities that living together naturally engenders and the injustices that continue to flow from the current dominance of the Israeli state over the area. Oppressed and oppressor is a social relationship, if a very unhealthy one.

It is a small book with a big idea: allow yourself to think beyond the artificial borders now imposed. Two historically rich cultures are being killed by the attempt to separate them when a blending to the extent possible would save them and might even create opportunities to make them greater. Abunimah points to South Africa's Freedom Charter that ensured justice for both whites and blacks in a new South Africa as a model that could save this important area of the world from the violent downward spiral it is in right now. The basic injustice involved is stubbornly not acknowledged by world leaders and has become a source of conflict beyond Israel-Palestine. Abunimah has an unvarnished view of this injustice and the way to acknowledge it but at the same time build a path forward for the two peoples, together.

He acknowledges the difficulties, both in a South Africa that has not gained full equality yet but is hopeful of doing so, and in starting the process in Israel-Palestine which requires some of the same seemingly drastic changes in thinking. However, there are both Israelis and Palestinians who have come to the same conclusion and see the only hope in this concept. Let's hope that this book will encourage others to think outside the artificially imposed boxes we have placed ourselves in.

Linda

I have found this to be the most refreshing solution of the core of the Middle East conflict: a practical treatment of the issues between the people of Palestine and Israel, treating this conflict as a bi-ethnic one, much like conflicts in Belgium, Canada, South Africa. The real test has been proven most recently in Ireland, and is the format that this intelligent author uses as the basis for a real resolution. Not surprisingly, the most astute peace advocates I have conferred with, since Sept11, Jewish-American, Middle-East-American alike, agree that the real peace lies in a one-state solution. This brilliant book gives us the way to visualize it, and move towards it. We need a DVD version of this!

Ali Abunimah is an inspiration to anyone who is motivated to work for social justice. If you've ever heard him speak live (like at last year's Georgetown conference) you know what I mean. What's amazing to me is that the main objection to Abunimah's proposal is the fear that Israeli Jews will be overwhelmed by Palestinians if bi-nationalism were ever implemented. It is so reminiscent of the fears White South Africans expressed over the "black peril." The only difference is that in the case of Israel, we find it easy to identify with and sympathize with the people oppressing the indigenous.

I don't believe that oppressing Palestinians keeps Jews safe and I think Abunimah has the right idea when he talks about maintaining the law of return and setting up protections so that no one can be forced out based on ethnicity. (Perhaps the reason why this is such a concern is because of the way Israel treats its Arab minority now.) Why is it so inconceivable that the Holy Land could remain a Jewish haven and a Jewish homeland, but allow Palestinians civil rights and the ability to co-define the character of the country? I've learned over the years that Palestinians are not anti-Semitic, they just want their rights and their homes and their identity. Even the zealous Islamists in Palestine are concerned with Palestinian freedom, it wouldn't matter if the people oppressing them were Jewish, Christian, Buddhist or Martian. Isn't it sort of liberating to know that there's a reason behind why they hate us? Doesn't it sort of make you feel like there might be a way out, that it's not too late?

This is such a difficult issue for Jews to face, because there is so much wrapped up in it. Israel made young Jewish boys who had been told they were feeble and bookish into tan, blonde Paul Newmans. It made Jewish women who had been told throughout their lives that they were ugly and "ethnic" into Biblical maidens. And then there's the understandable fear left over from the Holocaust...

I really hope that Jews who remain torn about Israel read this book. Listen to your conscience! Abunimah is not an enemy of the Jewish people, he's the best friend we've got.

The book is sensitive, well written and merits a broad reading audience. Delivery of the book to me was prompt and efficient.

Ed Thomson