FMC Blog: Free Speech Zone

Don't Blame Jews or Palestinians: The Path to Equal Rights and Lasting Peace

In the ongoing conflict between Palestinians and Israelis, there's a deeply troubling tendency to cast blame on one side or the other, painting the entire situation as an issue where one group is entirely responsible for the suffering of the other. This mentality is dangerous, perpetuating division, demonization, and, ultimately, a lack of genuine solutions. To move toward peace and coexistence, we must reject the narrative that either Jews or Palestinians are solely to blame for the situation-and instead embrace the idea that both groups share the land of Israel-Palestine as equals.

One of the most harmful and dangerous aspects of the conflict is the tendency to point fingers. The extremists on both sides-whether they are advocates for Israel or vocal supporters of Palestine-seem to find comfort in demonizing the other group, painting them as entirely responsible for the suffering of their own people. The rhetoric often escalates to dangerous levels, where the realities of human suffering are forgotten in the rush to assign blame. A disturbing example of this is when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outrageously suggested that Palestinians were responsible for the Holocaust, an atrocity committed by Nazi Germany. This type of deflection and distortion serves to dehumanize the other side, making it easier to justify violence or oppression.

Similarly, there are those who try to deny the historical and cultural ties that both Jews and Palestinians have to the land known as Israel and Palestine. On one hand, some Jewish Israelis argue that Palestine was empty when Jews began arriving to establish Israel, asserting that Palestinians are newcomers who arrived in search of work. This narrative not only distorts history, but it also seeks to erase the long-standing presence of Palestinians in the land. Palestinians have lived in the region for thousands of years. While they may have adopted Arabic over time, they are not recent migrants but natives of the land.

On the other hand, some supporters of Palestine argue that Jews have no rightful claim to the land, asserting that most of the Jews who settled in Israel were of Khazar descent and not native to the region. This, too, is a false narrative. Jews have deep historical, cultural, and spiritual ties to Israel-Palestine, and for many, Jerusalem is the very heart of their identity. To deny this attachment is to ignore centuries of Jewish connection to the land.

These attempts to erase the other's history are not only misleading but counterproductive to the cause of peace. If we are ever to reach a just and lasting solution, we must start with the understanding that both Jews and Palestinians are native to the land known as Israel and Palestine. This understanding is crucial because it shifts the conversation from one of exclusion and division to one of inclusion and mutual respect.

The only realistic path forward is the recognition of equal rights for both Palestinians and Israelis. A two-state solution has proven elusive for decades, with little progress made toward an enduring peace. Instead of continuing to search for ways to divide the land and the people, we must embrace the idea of a single, democratic state where both Jews and Palestinians live as equal citizens, with equal rights and protections under the law. This "equal rights solution," also known as the one-state solution, offers the most hope for peace and justice for all people in the region.

In this vision, Jews and Palestinians would not be locked into separate states or territories, constantly at odds with each other. Instead, they would coexist in one unified country, with full legal and civil rights for everyone, regardless of ethnicity or religion. This does not mean the erasure of cultural identities or the denial of religious freedoms. It means building a society based on equality, where the human dignity of both Palestinians and Israelis is respected.

The narrative of blame and division must give way to a vision of shared justice. For peace to be achieved, it's essential that both sides recognize the inherent humanity and rights of the other. Rather than continuing to point fingers at each other, the focus should shift to how both groups can live together in harmony, as equals in their shared homeland. The only path to peace is through mutual respect, understanding, and a commitment to the equal rights of all.

Until both Palestinians and Israelis accept this fundamental truth, the conflict will continue to drag on, perpetuating more suffering for both peoples. The time for division and blame is over. The time for equal rights and shared peace has arrived.

The Only Way Forward: Equal Rights for Palestinians and Israelis

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which has raged for over a century, remains one of the most contentious and heartbreaking struggles in the world today. Many have attempted to find solutions, but one thing is clear: the only way forward for lasting peace is a solution based on equality whereby Palestinians and Israelis share a united country as equal citizens. The "Equal Rights Solution" is not only the most viable path to peace but also the only proven approach that has worked in other struggles for justice and equality.

The Legacy of Inequality

When Israel declared itself a state in 1948, it did so at the expense of the Palestinian people. Hundreds of Palestinian villages were destroyed, and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were forced to leave their homes and land. This event created a refugee crisis that still reverberates today. Many Palestinians who fled in 1948 did not forget their homes-nor did their children or grandchildren. Yet, Israel, hoping time would make them forget, refused to allow Palestinian refugees to return, denying them basic rights, including the right to return to their ancestral homes.

As decades passed, Palestinian resistance did not fade away. Instead, it has evolved into a persistent fight for justice. And with each new generation, the demand for equal rights and the recognition of Palestinians as full citizens has only grown stronger.

Four Categories of Palestinians: A Divided Society

Today, the Israeli government maintains a deeply segregated society, dividing Palestinians into four categories, each with a different level of rights and freedoms.

1. Palestinians with Israeli Citizenship: These Palestinians have the most rights, including freedom of movement, access to employment, and the ability to vote. However, they still face systemic discrimination in many aspects of life, including in education, housing, and employment.
2. Palestinians in Jerusalem: While they are legal residents of Israel, they are not citizens and have fewer rights than Palestinian citizens of Israel. Their residency status can be revoked, leaving them vulnerable.
3. Palestinians in the West Bank: These individuals are neither citizens nor residents of Israel. They live under military occupation with limited freedom of movement and are subject to Israeli military laws rather than civil law.
4. Palestinians in Gaza: Living under a blockade, Palestinians in Gaza experience the most extreme conditions. They are not citizens or residents of Israel and have virtually no freedom of movement or employment opportunities. Gaza has often been described as an "open-air prison."

Interestingly, the Palestinians with the most rights-those with Israeli citizenship-are also the least likely to engage in violence against Israelis. Meanwhile, the situation in Gaza, where Palestinians have the fewest rights, has become the most violent. This stark difference demonstrates that inequality and repression breed resentment and conflict. The more rights and freedoms Palestinians are granted, the more peaceful and cooperative they tend to be.

The Solution: Equal Rights

The core issue of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not about religion or ethnicity but about basic human rights. The divide between Jews and Palestinians is fundamentally a divide between equal and unequal treatment. While various solutions have been proposed over the years, including the much-discussed two-state solution, none have addressed the root cause of the conflict: inequality.

The Equal Rights Solution-which is also called the "One State Solution"-is the only viable path to peace. In this model, Jews and Palestinians would live as equal citizens within the same state. Whether through a unitary state with one person, one vote or through a federation where both peoples share power equally, the key is equality.

This approach addresses the reality that Palestinians will never accept second-class citizenship. They will never accept being treated as lesser people or being denied the same rights that Jews enjoy. As we've seen in history, when any group is marginalized or oppressed, resistance is inevitable. It is not a question of if, but when, the marginalized group will rise up.

A Parallels to the Civil Rights Struggle in the U.S. and South Africa

The struggle for Palestinian equality is strikingly similar to the struggles for civil rights and justice faced by African Americans in the United States and black South Africans under apartheid. Both the African American civil rights movement and the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa were, at their core, about demanding equal rights and an end to institutionalized racism. In both cases, the oppressed group fought for the right to live as equals in the societies they had been excluded from.

In the case of South Africa, it was only when the apartheid system was dismantled and black South Africans were granted equal rights that peace began to emerge. Similarly, in the United States, the civil rights movement did not end with token gestures or partial equality; it succeeded only when African Americans were granted full citizenship and the rights that should have been theirs all along. In both cases, the demands for equality and justice could not be ignored forever, and peace only came when true equality was achieved.

Human Rights Watch and B'Tselem: Apartheid State

Recent reports from leading human rights organizations, such as Human Rights Watch and B'Tselem, have drawn a stark comparison between Israel's treatment of Palestinians and South Africa's apartheid regime. These organizations have described Israel as an apartheid state, citing practices like the systematic eviction of Palestinians from their homes, the lack of equal access to resources, and the denial of basic civil rights to Palestinians.

The inequality faced by Palestinians is not just a legal issue-it is a moral one. If Israel continues to deny Palestinians equal rights, it will not achieve peace. The situation will only worsen, as it did in South Africa and the United States. The forced separation and discrimination will eventually fuel more anger, more resistance, and more violence.

Moving Toward Peace

Israel faces a critical choice: it can continue with the status quo, clinging to a system of segregation and inequality, or it can embrace a new future based on equal rights for all its citizens. The struggle for equality is not just a Palestinian cause-it is a universal human cause. Israel must acknowledge that no group of people, whether Palestinian or Jewish, will ever accept living under a system of apartheid. Inequality does not work, and it will never work.

It is time for Israel to realize that peace can only be achieved when Palestinians are granted the same rights, protections, and opportunities as Jews. The world has seen how the struggle for equality has succeeded in other places. There is no reason to believe that the path to peace in Israel-Palestine will be any different. Only through equality can Israel and Palestine hope for a future of peace, justice, and shared prosperity.

For Israel-Palestine, Equal Rights = Peace.

By Kamal Nawash

Peace through Equality

A just and lasting peace for both Israelis and Palestinians hinges on the principle of equality-where both communities are granted the same rights, opportunities, and freedoms, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or history. The best way to achieve this peace is through a unitary state or federation, where Israel and Palestine are united into one country where all citizens, including Palestinians and Israelis, live as equals under the same laws.

Equality is not a new or foreign concept in the struggle for justice. Throughout history, marginalized groups have fought for basic human rights, and their successes show that equality is not just a moral ideal, but a practical solution to peace and stability. In the United States, African Americans fought for desegregation, civil rights, and equality before the law. As Martin Luther King Jr. famously said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." The same logic applies to the situation in Israel and Palestine. When one group is treated as second-class citizens, or is excluded from full participation in society, peace is impossible.

One compelling example of this is the division of Palestinians into four distinct categories under Israeli law. Those who hold Israeli citizenship, such as Palestinians in the Galilee, enjoy the most rights, including the right to vote and run for office. They can live and work freely in Israel. These rights allow them to coexist with Jewish Israelis peacefully. However, Palestinians in Jerusalem, though residents, are not full citizens, and face restrictions on movement, access to resources, and participation in political life. Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza face even worse conditions, with restricted mobility, fewer resources, and a constant state of segregation and violence. The West Bank is encircled by a wall, and Gaza is subject to an ongoing blockade. This fragmentation, and the unequal distribution of rights, creates a constant state of tension and conflict. As Nelson Mandela once said, "To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity." Palestinians in Gaza, who live under the least favorable conditions, suffer the most, and this has led to repeated cycles of violence.

On the other hand, the peaceful coexistence between Palestinian citizens of Israel and Jewish Israelis demonstrates the power of equality. When both groups are given equal rights, they are able to coexist peacefully, despite deep historical and cultural differences. It is crucial to note that in regions where inequality and segregation exist, such as Gaza, conflict and violence thrive. As Mahatma Gandhi put it, "An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind." The cycle of violence between Israel and Gaza will only continue as long as one group is denied equality.

Kamal Nawash has emphasized that peace cannot be achieved through mere coexistence under inequality, but through a shared vision of equality and justice. In his writings, Nawash advocates for a "unitary state" solution, where Palestinians and Israelis live together as equal citizens. He suggests that such a state would foster stability, security, and prosperity for both peoples, ensuring that the mistakes of segregation and discrimination do not continue to divide the land.

Just as desegregation was essential to peace in the United States, so too is the end of racial and legal segregation in Israel and Palestine. When laws discriminate based on ethnicity or religion, peace becomes a distant hope. By offering equal rights to all citizens-regardless of whether they are Jewish or Palestinian-Israel can not only create peace with Palestinians but also with itself. A unified, democratic state with equal rights for all citizens would prevent the violence, unrest, and constant state of war that currently exists in Gaza. It would also serve as a model for the world, showing that peace can only come when all people are granted equality before the law.

In conclusion, a unitary state or federation based on equality is the only viable path forward for Israelis and Palestinians. By embracing the principle of equal rights, as we have seen in the civil rights struggles of African Americans and the teachings of leaders like Mandela, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr., peace and justice can be achieved. True peace comes not from a fragmented, divided system of different laws for different people, but from a shared commitment to equality and mutual respect. Equality is a solution.

Kamal Nawash is an American lawyer from Jerusalem.