One Country

Last Friday the co-founder of Electronic Intifada, Ali Abunimah, paid a visit to Waterloo for a lecture, and a book signing. The event had been organized among several Palestinian student-based clubs across Quebec and Ontario. I had seen Ali Abunimah speak before, and I was anxious to hear him speak again. Ali discussed the current (and rapidly deteriorating) situation in the Gaza strip and West Bank. He then focused on his new book “One Country: A Bold Proposal to End the Israeli-Palestinian Impasse.”

Going into the lecture I didn’t believe that a one state solution would actually work. Israel hasn’t given the Palestinians their own state, what would drive them to abandon their Jewish state and share power with the Palestinians? Of course Ali had thought of that, and every other “obstacle” that people normally see when thinking of a one state solution.

In the question and answer period that followed Ali was asked very tough questions ranging from “how can you expect Israeli’s and Palestinians to live together in one country after the brutal history between them?” to “In a time when we’re speaking of Iraq splitting into 3 different sectarian states, how can we expect Palestinians and Israeli’s to agree to merge together into a single state?”

Ali had answered the questions above, and many others with very convincing logic. He drew parallels between South African, Ireland, and the Palestinian-Israel situation. He noted that the agreement reached between Protestants and Catholics in Ireland is akin to an agreement reached between Likud and Hamas. It’s hard to imagine but it has happened.

One question that Ali didn’t have an answer for was “what would be the name of single state?” He smiled saying that it was his favourite question.

After the lecture we went out for dinner, where I had the chance to ask Ali many questions mainly regarding Middle East politics and the upcoming US elections.

I’m currently reading “One Country” and I might publish a book summary when I’m done reading it. In the meanwhile I totally recommend you pick up a copy and give the one state idea a chance before disregarding it as impossible to achieve.