The state of the Middle East

Christian Century, Nov 15, 2003

The so-called road map to peace in the Middle East calls for the creation of an independent, democratic Palestinian state in the territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 war. However, Israel's ongoing building of settlements in the territories, and now the construction of what it calls a "security fence," seems to be undermining this two-state solution.

As a result, some people have been calling for a binational one-state solution instead. Naim Ateek, head of Sabeel, the Jerusalem-based ecumenical center, said recently in Chicago that he envisions this latter option as two separate states under the control of one central government--something like Canada with its French and English areas. "Obviously, the best solution would be one democratic, secular, pluralistic state in which no cue is a second-class citizen," Ateek said.