But, according to some (as Abunimah was brought up), for instance Meron Benvenisti, the argument isn't really about what the Israelis 'want', but what is actually being enacted on the ground. As he says: "In fact, even today we are living in a binational reality, and it is a permanent given. It cannot be ignored and it cannot be denied." (http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=326313&contrassID=2&subContrassID=14&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y)
And I also think that Benvenisti has an idea of some sort of confederation along the lines of Jeff Halper's proposal:
"I don't yet have a coherent proposal. I don't have a work plan. But the direction of thought is clear. The new paradigm is mandated by reality. What I see is a combination of horizontal division (sharing in government) and a vertical division (partitioning of the territory). What I see is a federal structure that will include all of historic western Palestine. Different ethnic cantons will exist under that structure. It's clear, for example, that the Palestinian citizens of Israel will have their own cantons. They will have their own autonomy, which will express their collective rights. And it's clear, on the other side, that the settlers will have a canton. The executive of the federal government will strike some sort of balance between the two national groups. It wouldn't bother me if the basis for the balance is equality: one for one."
For me, on a normal day to day basis, I have to say, I don't really think about whether or not the final shape of a just political settlement should be one binational (or my favorite "non-national") state, or some form of two-state federation or confederation, I mostly keep my focus on the immediate needs of demanding a total end to the Israeli military occupation, the upholding of international law, and the defense of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
Doug Henwood wrote:
> Joel Schalit wrote:
>
>> Just to clarify vis Abunimah, he's not a two state guy. His argument
>> is that a one state solution is the only realistic one, and is, for
>> all intents and purposes, already in effect through the Occupation.
>
> A position which would have close to 0 support among Israelis, right?
>
> Doug