blue‘…This right is the natural right of the Jewish people to be masters of their own fate, like all other nations, in their own sovereign State…’
(The Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel)
Israel must guarantee its security while maintaining its Jewish and democratic character, in the spirit of its Proclamation of Independence. Indeed, the emerging Arab majority between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River necessitates a diplomatic solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict if Israel wishes to remain the recognized, democratic national home of the Jewish people.
The Israeli interest calls for action in two integrated diplomatic routes that support and complement each other:
- The first track focuses on the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations with the clear goal of reaching an agreement based on the principle of two states for two peoples.
- The second track involves the enacting of unilateral policies that advance a reality of two states and do not conflict with the negotiation process, including the encouragement of Israeli settlers residing in remote areas that clearly will not be part of Israel’s final borders to come back to Israel-proper.
There is an urgent need to move forward in the two tracks simultaneously. The combination of a credible negotiation process and supportive independent Israeli action would strengthen Israel’s international standing and bring it closer to its objective – a Jewish, democratic and secure state for future generations.
In further detail:
The agreement track:
Israel would actively and vigorously pursue a permanent Israeli-Palestinian agreement according to which an independent Palestinian state would be established based on the 1967 lines with agreed land swaps that reflect subsequent developments and meet the needs of both parties, including security and demography. The agreement would be democratically ratified. [Draft of a regional agreement is attached as Appendix A – Israeli Peace Initiative].
The unconditional track:
- Israel would halt expansion of settlements east of the separation barrier and in Arab neighborhoods of East Jerusalem. Construction would continue west of the barrier in a manner that does not threaten the viability of a two-state solution.
- Israel would transfer areas east of the barrier to full Palestinian control in a gradual and supervised manner.
- As a sign of its deep commitment to the settler community, whose mission has been completed, Israel would promote:
3.1. Legislation of a law titled ‘Absorption, Compensation and Voluntary Evacuation’ to encourage the return of settlers who wish to come back into Israel-Proper before the signing of an agreement. [Draft legislation is attached as Appendix B]
3.2. Preparation of a national action plan for the absorption of those settlers that would return to Israel proper, either before an agreement is signed or after. [The plan is attached in Appendix C.]
In order to assist the government, Blue White Future has started developing a framework for absorbing settlers. In parallel, the organization calls upon the government to carry out the steps mentioned above.
The recent transformations in the Arab world, the need to ensure a Jewish majority within Israel’s sovereign area and prevent a reality of a bi-national state – all commit our public representatives and decision makers to assume responsibility. There is an urgent need for action to ensure Israel’s prosperity as a democratic homeland of the Jewish people for future generations.