Preliminary Deliberations on Proposed Solutions to Restore Genuine Palestinian Rights
By Dr. Khalil Nakhleh
Occupied Ramallah
"An Opening Word
My decision to initiate this discussion was stimulated by a number of articles that appeared in Kanaanonline e-Bulletin over the last ten months, on the issue of the “one-state solution”, and by the encouragement of the editors of Kanaanonline.
Before delving in the deliberations on the proposed “one-state” ideas, I want to make two comments:
(1) What I present below is a personal position, which is a result of long years of reflection, thought and searching. I hope that these deliberations will provoke equally deep thought and reflection among all those concerned about our future.
By Dr. Khalil Nakhleh
Occupied Ramallah
"An Opening Word
My decision to initiate this discussion was stimulated by a number of articles that appeared in Kanaanonline e-Bulletin over the last ten months, on the issue of the “one-state solution”, and by the encouragement of the editors of Kanaanonline.
Before delving in the deliberations on the proposed “one-state” ideas, I want to make two comments:
(1) What I present below is a personal position, which is a result of long years of reflection, thought and searching. I hope that these deliberations will provoke equally deep thought and reflection among all those concerned about our future.
(2) Although I am not necessarily wedded, in advance, to any of the currently proposed “labels” for possible solutions (i.e. a Democratic State, a “Bi-National State”, a “Secular Democratic State”, a “Socialist State” , etc), I believe that the solution should emanate from clear “strategic objectives” to our struggle, to which we ought to be committed, and with which any proposed solution should be coherent. I am, however, committed to struggling, with all who share these views, for a Society that is democratic, just, non-exploitative, self-generating, self-reliant, free and independent from external domination, in historical Palestine. In other words, I am committed to struggling for the antithesis of apartheid, and all forms of racist political, spatial, economic, and psychological separation on the historical land of Palestine......
And finally, why do I support the idea of One Democratic Socialist Society in historical Palestine?
Because I support a just, moral and sustained solution that embodies the potential of restoring genuine Palestinian rights in their historical patrimony. Such a solution:
1. Rectifies the historical and continuous evil and injustice done to the Palestinian people;
2. Preserves the geographical and territorial integrity of Palestine as part of the Arab Homeland;
3. Insists on the right of return of all Palestinians to their lands and properties from which they were forcefully and criminally evicted;
4. Dismantles all Zionist and Jewish-Israeli structures and laws that were built on inequality and on the exclusion of Palestinian Arabs, with the purpose of imposing and maintaining a hegemonic control of the Zionist-Ashkenazi state over the entire region;
5. Allows and encourages mutual living and existence between the Palestinian Arabs and Israeli Jews in the historical land of Palestine, within a democratic, non-sectarian, equal, non-repressive, non-exploitative, just and open society;
6. Promises genuine and sustainable development of the territory of Palestine, for the benefit of all its inhabitants, especially the poor and the marginalized, by focusing on the effective, productive and purposeful use of land and water, for the full employment potential of its workers;
7. Sets an important human example of how antagonists may live together harmoniously in a delineated physical space, once racist and exclusionary ideology and practices are expunged. "
And finally, why do I support the idea of One Democratic Socialist Society in historical Palestine?
Because I support a just, moral and sustained solution that embodies the potential of restoring genuine Palestinian rights in their historical patrimony. Such a solution:
1. Rectifies the historical and continuous evil and injustice done to the Palestinian people;
2. Preserves the geographical and territorial integrity of Palestine as part of the Arab Homeland;
3. Insists on the right of return of all Palestinians to their lands and properties from which they were forcefully and criminally evicted;
4. Dismantles all Zionist and Jewish-Israeli structures and laws that were built on inequality and on the exclusion of Palestinian Arabs, with the purpose of imposing and maintaining a hegemonic control of the Zionist-Ashkenazi state over the entire region;
5. Allows and encourages mutual living and existence between the Palestinian Arabs and Israeli Jews in the historical land of Palestine, within a democratic, non-sectarian, equal, non-repressive, non-exploitative, just and open society;
6. Promises genuine and sustainable development of the territory of Palestine, for the benefit of all its inhabitants, especially the poor and the marginalized, by focusing on the effective, productive and purposeful use of land and water, for the full employment potential of its workers;
7. Sets an important human example of how antagonists may live together harmoniously in a delineated physical space, once racist and exclusionary ideology and practices are expunged. "
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