So, this was posted on my blog, but I thought I would repost it here to get a little more reaction, help fine-tuning it, reads, and interest.
I wrote it as an answer to an argument I had with a classmate, in which I was accused of being an anti-Semite. Her main argument was that, because of the Holocaust, Jews deserved their own nation. I was frustrated, but I hadn't though it through, so I lost the argument.
Here it is: my plan for peace between the Jews and Palestinians.
Also, I'm only 16, so if I'm a little naive, just help me, don't jump on me.
* It sets a dangerous precedent to grant a country to those who were evicted from it 3000 years ago.
* After some time, it becomes equally immoral to evict the people who stole the land. After centuries of occupation, it does become their homeland, and removing them becomes punishing them for the actions of their ancestors, something which is abhorrent to democratic cultures around the world. Time does matter-stolen land really should not be returned after a few decades.
* Now that Israel is established, it is as immoral to evict them as it was for them to evict the Palestinians. What must happen now is that Israel commit to:
o stop bulldozing houses, bombing civilians and building new settlements outside of the pre-1967 border.
o Retreat to pre-1967 lines, no matter what the Palestinians do.
o Remove settlements from the West Bank.
o Retreat from Jerusalem completely, to facilitate the creation of an internationally managed city-state in the Old City.
* We must offer a carrot, in the form of more funding, as well as a stick- in the form of the cutoff of some or all aid, depending on the severity of the violations of the treaty, for Israel.
* AFTER these occur, the Palestinians must be granted a strip of land connecting the West Bank and Gaza, then set up a functioning state that does not rely on Israel or other nations for funds, but which recognizes the existence of Israel as a CORE POLICY. It must remain in good standing with the world community regardless of whether extremist groups are elected into power
* We must set up an independent agency, along with a an independent court system, to settle disputes over arrests and other problems between Palestine and Israel.
* Refugees must be let back in and compensated for their land if they have evidence that they owned it.
* Israel must withdraw and disassemble, as per instructions by the Palestinian Authority, all constructions outside of its pre-1967 boundaries, including their wall.
* As a full state, Palestine should be given a somewhat limited military-the second world war partially grew out of Germany's being denied full rights as a nation.
* Palestine should be allowed to have air transportation in and out, as well as water transport.
* All of these additions are just to reinforce the fact that Palestine must be given all the rights of a full nation on equal standing with Israel internationally.
* Watch and wait. Solve problems as they arise.