Certainly the two state solution is an ugly and unworkable option being surpassed in ugliness and unworkability only by the status quos or some kind of one state solution. I agree that in the failure of two state we’re pretty much stuck with a one state solution (at least in terms of ethical alternatives). I can feel my hands shake with fear though in imagining how badly things could turn out if the Israeli polity finds itself backed (or self dragged) into a situation where the only ethical option is surrendering themselves into the hands of a hostile majority. The unethical alternatives would begin to tower in such a situation, may it never come to that.

Absolutely the madhouse settlement by Jews in the West Bank is a terrible thing and makes the two state solution more difficult. I do feel obliged to observe, though, that it is a crushing indictment of the Palestinian and Arab people that in Israel millions of Arab-Israeli’s can work, live and vote in relative equality and peace with their host nation while the idea of Jewish minority living in Palestinian evokes plausible predictions that lead down an alley full of violence and end in a blood soaked sandy grave. This is not to excuse the settlers. It’s blatantly obvious that they’d be hauling their Kocher asses back to Israel proper at warp speed if the Israeli government were ever to have the chutzpah to tell them that they could stay in Palestine but they’d be on their own under Palestinian rule.

I love the idea if Israel-Palestine being some kind of 51st state but of course it would be a validation of all of the most wild eyed conspiracy theories about the “Great Satan” in all Arabic circles and utterly unworkable in practice since neither ethnic group speak English as their first language. Nor would the U.S. ever allow anything like the right of return for an Israeli 51’st state and I’m dubious the Israelis would ever consent to essentially locking the rest of the Jewish Diaspora out of the holy land.

I haven’t read Ali Abu Nimah myself though I’ve heard his book described as very optimistic and naive. If it starts to look like the two state solution is truly dead I definitely will need to brush up on my reading. After I start trying to tackle “The Kraut” of course; Bob would be vexed if I put it off too much.