Vision to Reality: The Reut Blog

A unilateral Palestinian declaration of independence (UDI) is one of two options mentioned by Fatah in the case of negotiations failing (the other being support for a bi-national state). Yet following Salam Fayyad’s paper on building a Palestinian state, several commentators suggest that the international community may support such a policy of Palestinian unilateralism.

Writing in Bitterlemons, Ghassan Khatib and Yossi Alpher both argue that the international community might support a UDI due to growing international frustration with Israel and recognition of the efforts of the Palestinian government.

Alpher also suggests that a UDI has certain advantages. Although it raises problems as to the future of borders, security and settlements and fails to answer the question of Gaza, a UDI would seemingly free Israel from dealing with the refugee issue which could be diluted within the Palestinian state.

Moreover, even though building a Palestinian state de-facto would not bring about an end of conflict, Alpher argues it would make it easier to solve many outstanding issues between Israel and the Palestinians (as they could be discussed on a state to state level.)

It seems that the US Administration is aiming for an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians within 2 years. However, bearing in mind that the gaps between the two sides and the division between Fatah and Hamas makes both a Permanent Status Agreement (PSA) and a Palestinian State in Provisional Borders (PSPB) highly unlikely, might building a Palestinian state on the ground in the West Bank with the aim to ultimately recognize it as a state be the best course forward?

Related Posts

Reut Concept: Fragmentation and Dilution Approach
Reassessment of the Political Process: Build a Palestinian State in the West Bank
The Political Implications of Fayyad’s Plan