Two-State Solution in Zionist Left Thinking Between the concept of “Greater Israel” and the vision of Shlomo Ben Ami for peace

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Department of Hebrew Language- Faculty of Arts- Ain shams University

10.21608/aafu.2024.326929.1688

Abstract

The research is interested in studying and discussing the two-State solution in Zionist Left Thinking between the concept of " Greater Israel " and the vision of Shlomo Ben Ami, Israel's former Foreign Minister, for peace.
The research begins with an introduction to the concept of " Greater Israel " in the light of ideological documents supporting the notion of " Greater Israel ", published after the 1967 war in opposition to territorial concessions, and expressing the Stance of three main currents: the current that emanates from the Movement is represented in the Movement for Greater Israel, the Zionist Right Stream and the Religious Zionism Current.
The research is divided into two main axes:
The first axis deals with the debate within the Zionist left over the idea of "division of land", which led to an intellectual division within it in the pre-1967 war phase by presenting and analysing the following:
1- "Perfection of the Land " in the thoughts of Yitzhak Tabenkin.
2- The role of Tabenkin in justifying settlement policies.
3- The Stance of Berl Katznelson's From territorial concessions and From the issue of Jerusalem.
4- The Stance of Ahdut Ha'avuda, Hashomer Hatzair and the United Kibbutz From the issue of partition.
Second, it addresses the two-State solution in the light of Shlomo Ben Ami's vision for peace, as he explained in his meeting with Eli Ber. Navi 1998, published in the book "A Place for All" that year. The book's sixth edition was published in 1999. The research is also due to Ben Ami's Vision for Peace 2017 through his dialogue with Ale Levi, published in the newspaper Maariv on 22/9/2017. It addresses by presentation and analysis the following ::
1- Shlomo Ben Ami's definition of peace and his vision of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
2- Israel's societal transformation and rightward movement along with religious tide and its impact on peace.
3- The impact of the first Palestinian intifada (1987) and the second (2000) on Palestinian-Israeli peace.
4- "Clinton's proposal in December 2000" to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the stance of the Israeli and Palestinian sides from the proposal.
5- The Stance of  the Israeli right-wing "Netanyahu Government" (1996-1999) From the permanent settlement.
6- Reasons for the interruption of the peace march during Benjamin Netanyahu's second term in office (2009-2021).
7- Two-State solution, reasons for mistrust of solution
8-Beilin-Abu Mazen Plan 1995, Palestinian State or Bantustan.
9-Shlomo Ben Ami's vision for the proposed Palestinian State, which deals with the following: the military dimension of the State, the economic dimension, the demographic dimension, the right to swap areas between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, the proposal to relocate areas in the north of the Sinai Peninsula or rent them from Egypt, and ben Ami put forward several possibilities for the legal status of the area to be handed over.
10- The question of Jerusalem and refugees.
The research refutes Shlomo Ben Ami's vision of the proposed Palestinian State and denounces it in the light of historical data and actual reality.
Research Objectives:
The research aims to answer the following questions:
1-Has the Zionist Left taken a unified position on the pre-1967 war issue of "partitioning Palestine"?
2-Is there a possibility for a just and comprehensive peace that recognizes a genuinely sovereign Palestinian State under Israel's right-wing Government?
3-Uncover the coercive reasons that may drive Israel in the direction of peace.
4-See Shlomo Ben Ami's vision for peace and the proposed Palestinian state.
5-In the light of Shlomo's vision of the proposed Palestinian State, what is the aim of trying to involve the Egyptian side and propose solutions at the expense of his territory?
Research curriculum:
Research is based on the use of both descriptive and analytical approaches. The descriptive curriculum will assist in the historical monitoring process. The analytical approach will help dismantle concepts and ideas, analyse them critically and draw conclusions against a backdrop of political developments.

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