Is a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine possible? | Start Here

Al Jazeera English
26 Mar 202421:15

Summary

TLDRThe video script explores the concept of the two-state solution as a means to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It delves into the history of the region, the complex dynamics of land division, and the political and social challenges that have made this solution elusive. The script highlights the historical context, the role of international and local actors, and the impact of ongoing violence. It also examines the criticisms of the two-state solution and presents alternative viewpoints, including the one-state solution, emphasizing the importance of addressing the underlying issues of rights and governance.

Takeaways

  • ๐ŸŒ The two-state solution, envisioning Israel and a new state of Palestine coexisting peacefully, is widely considered the most viable resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but remains elusive due to historical, political, and territorial complexities.
  • ๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ The land in question is marked by complex territorial divisions, including Israeli military occupations, Palestinian territories separated by Israeli settlements, and ongoing disputes over borders and control.
  • ๐Ÿ“œ The two-state solution concept has been around for decades, but some critics view it as an avoidance strategy that allows politicians to avoid addressing the core issues, such as individual rights and historical grievances.
  • ๐Ÿ•Œ Historical context is crucial: the region has been controlled by various empires and has a diverse population, with tensions rising during the British mandate due to growing Jewish immigration and Zionism.
  • โš”๏ธ The conflict escalated after the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 and subsequent wars, leading to a complicated history of displacement, military occupation, and territorial disputes.
  • ๐Ÿค The Oslo Accords in the 1990s were a significant step toward peace, with Israel and Palestinians recognizing each other and outlining a framework for potential statehood, but they left many permanent status issues unresolved.
  • ๐Ÿšง Key obstacles to peace include the ongoing expansion of Israeli settlements, political shifts in Israel towards more hardline positions, and divisions within Palestinian leadership.
  • ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ The United States has played a major role as a mediator but faces criticism for its strong alliance with Israel, which some argue limits its ability to pressure Israel for concessions.
  • ๐Ÿ’” The peace process has been stalled for years, with recent conflicts like the 2023 Gaza war further complicating prospects for negotiation and leading to renewed calls for a two-state solution from international leaders.
  • ๐Ÿดโ€โ˜ ๏ธ While the two-state solution remains the stated goal of some Palestinian groups, internal divisions and the rise of Hamas complicate representation, and there's debate about whether this solution is still viable given current realities.

Q & A

  • What is the two-state solution?

    -The two-state solution is a proposed framework for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by establishing two sovereign states: Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.

  • Why has the two-state solution been difficult to achieve?

    -The two-state solution has been difficult to achieve due to complex issues such as borders, the status of Jerusalem, the right of return for Palestinian refugees, Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and mutual distrust between the parties involved.

  • What historical events led to the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

    -The conflict has roots in historical events such as the British mandate in Palestine, the Balfour Declaration, the partition plans proposed by the British and the UN, the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, and subsequent wars and uprisings, including the Six-Day War in 1967 and the Intifadas.

  • What was the Oslo Accords?

    -The Oslo Accords were a series of agreements between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in the 1990s, aimed at achieving a peace process and establishing a framework for Palestinian self-governance in parts of the West Bank and Gaza.

  • What are the main challenges to implementing a two-state solution today?

    -Challenges include the continued expansion of Israeli settlements, political divisions among Palestinians, shifts to the right in Israeli politics, lack of trust and credibility in leadership on both sides, and insufficient international mediation and support.

  • What role has the United States played in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process?

    -The United States has been a key mediator in the peace process, supporting Israel diplomatically and militarily, while also advocating for a two-state solution. However, it has faced criticism for not exerting enough pressure on Israel to halt settlement expansion and make necessary concessions.

  • What are the positions of different Palestinian factions on the two-state solution?

    -The PLO officially supports a two-state solution, while Hamas's position is less clear, with a 2017 document indicating acceptance of a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders but without explicit recognition of Israel.

  • Why is the issue of Israeli settlements a major obstacle to peace?

    -Israeli settlements are considered illegal under international law and their expansion in the West Bank complicates the creation of a contiguous Palestinian state, leading to further tensions and distrust between Israelis and Palestinians.

  • What impact did the 1948 Arab-Israeli War have on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

    -The 1948 war, following Israel's declaration of independence, led to the displacement of over 700,000 Palestinians, the establishment of Israel, and the loss of Palestinian land, creating long-lasting refugee issues and territorial disputes.

  • How has the Israeli-Palestinian conflict evolved since the Oslo Accords?

    -Since the Oslo Accords, the conflict has seen failed peace talks, continued violence, Israeli settlement growth, Palestinian political fragmentation, and shifting political dynamics, making a two-state solution increasingly elusive.

Outlines

00:00

๐ŸŸฆ The Elusive Two-State Solution

The two-state solution, envisioning Israel and a new state of Palestine coexisting peacefully, has long been proposed as a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Despite being widely discussed, its implementation remains distant. The complexity of the issue includes historical claims, land division, and political maneuvers, with criticisms that the concept serves as a way for politicians to avoid responsibility.

05:01

๐ŸŸฉ Historical Context and the Birth of Israel

The idea of partitioning Palestine dates back to the early 20th century, influenced by British control and Zionist movements. Tensions between Jewish and Arab populations escalated, leading to the UN partition plan in 1947, which proposed separate Jewish and Arab states. The plan was accepted by Jewish leaders but rejected by Arab leaders, resulting in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, which established Israel and displaced many Palestinians.

10:03

๐ŸŸจ Oslo Accords and the Peace Process

The Oslo Accords, initiated in the 1990s, were a landmark in the peace process, establishing the Palestinian Authority and outlining a path towards a two-state solution. However, the agreements faced opposition from both Israelis and Palestinians, with criticisms of the accords' vague promises and the continuation of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The peace process faced numerous challenges, including the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

15:03

๐ŸŸง Challenges to the Two-State Solution

Despite international efforts, the peace process has struggled. Factors include Israeli settlement expansion, shifts in Israeli and Palestinian leadership, and internal divisions among Palestinians. The Oslo Accords did not address key issues like the status of Jerusalem and the right of return for Palestinian refugees, further complicating negotiations.

20:04

๐ŸŸฅ Current Perspectives and Alternatives

Recent years have seen dwindling support for the two-state solution, with some suggesting a one-state solution as a more realistic approach. The Israeli government has largely rejected the two-state model, and the Palestinian leadership is divided and weakened. Amid ongoing violence, some argue for focusing on ending discrimination and ensuring equal rights rather than pursuing separate states.

Mindmap

Keywords

๐Ÿ’กTwo-State Solution

The two-state solution refers to the proposal of creating two sovereign states, Israel and Palestine, to coexist peacefully. The idea is to establish a Palestinian state alongside Israel to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is considered the only viable solution by many international leaders, though it remains elusive due to ongoing tensions and disagreements over land division and governance.

๐Ÿ’กGaza Strip

The Gaza Strip is a small Palestinian territory along the Mediterranean coast, bordered by Israel and Egypt. It has been under Israeli military occupation and blockade, leading to significant humanitarian issues. The recent war in Gaza has brought the region back into the headlines, highlighting the destruction and the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel.

๐Ÿ’กWest Bank

The West Bank is a landlocked Palestinian territory bordered by Israel and Jordan. It is characterized by a patchwork of Palestinian land interspersed with Israeli settlements, which are deemed illegal under international law. The settlements complicate the peace process and the establishment of a contiguous Palestinian state.

๐Ÿ’กIsraeli Settlements

Israeli settlements refer to communities established by Israel in territories occupied during the 1967 Six-Day War, including the West Bank and East Jerusalem. These settlements are considered illegal under international law and are a major obstacle to the two-state solution, as they expand Israeli control over land designated for a future Palestinian state.

๐Ÿ’กPalestinian Refugees

Palestinian refugees are individuals who were displaced from their homes during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and their descendants. The right of return for these refugees is a contentious issue in the peace process, with Palestinians demanding their return to their original homes and Israel opposing this due to demographic concerns.

๐Ÿ’กOslo Accords

The Oslo Accords are a series of agreements between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) aimed at achieving a peace treaty based on United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 and at fulfilling the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. Signed in the 1990s, these accords established the Palestinian Authority and outlined a framework for further negotiations, though many issues remain unresolved.

๐Ÿ’กPLO (Palestine Liberation Organization)

The PLO is an organization established in 1964 to create an independent State of Palestine. It represents Palestinians in diplomatic efforts and was a party to the Oslo Accords. The PLO officially recognized Israel in 1988, which marked a significant step towards the peace process, although its power has diminished in recent years.

๐Ÿ’กHamas

Hamas is a Palestinian Islamic political and militant organization that controls the Gaza Strip. Classified as a terrorist organization by several countries, including the United States and the European Union, Hamas opposes the existence of Israel and has been involved in various conflicts with Israeli forces. Its stance complicates the peace process and the implementation of a two-state solution.

๐Ÿ’ก1967 Six-Day War

The 1967 Six-Day War was a conflict between Israel and neighboring Arab countries, including Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. Israel's victory resulted in the capture of the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Golan Heights. This war significantly altered the political landscape of the region and is central to the ongoing territorial disputes.

๐Ÿ’กRight of Return

The right of return refers to the principle that Palestinian refugees and their descendants should be allowed to return to their homes in what is now Israel. This issue is a major sticking point in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, with Palestinians demanding this right and Israel opposing it due to concerns over the demographic impact on the Jewish state.

Highlights

The two-state solution is seen as the only real solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, aiming for two states living side by side in peace and security.

The idea of a two-state solution has been around for decades but remains elusive, with ongoing conflicts complicating its realization.

The Palestinian territories, Gaza and the West Bank, are under Israeli military occupation, making the path to a Palestinian state complicated.

Israeli settlements, considered illegal under international law, have expanded, making the division of land and creation of a Palestinian state more difficult.

The history of the region includes control by various ancient kingdoms and empires, with modern conflicts rooted in these historical claims.

The British Mandate of Palestine and the Balfour Declaration promised a Jewish homeland, leading to increased Jewish immigration and subsequent tension with the Arab population.

In 1947, the UN proposed a partition plan for separate Jewish and Arab states, but Arab leaders rejected it as unfair.

The 1948 Arab-Israeli War resulted in Israel declaring itself a state, leading to significant Palestinian displacement and the establishment of current borders.

The 1967 Six-Day War resulted in Israel's control over the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, intensifying the conflict.

The Oslo Accords in the 1990s marked the beginning of the peace process, with mutual recognition and a plan for gradual Israeli withdrawal and increased Palestinian autonomy.

Despite initial optimism, the Oslo Accords faced opposition from both sides and failed to resolve key issues, such as the status of Jerusalem and the right of return for Palestinian refugees.

Israeli settlement expansion continued during the peace process, undermining trust and complicating the creation of a Palestinian state.

Political shifts in Israel have moved towards the right, with fewer politicians supporting the two-state solution and some advocating for full annexation of Palestinian territories.

Palestinian leadership is divided between the PLO and Hamas, complicating negotiations and representation.

Recent conflicts, including the 2023 war in Gaza, have renewed discussions on the two-state solution but have also highlighted the significant obstacles and skepticism surrounding its feasibility.

Transcripts

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let's talk about the two-state solution

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Israel living alongside the new state of

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Palestine it's long been seen as the

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answer but remains

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elusive with the war in Gaza it's back

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in the headlines the only real solution

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is a two-state solution over time a

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lasting end to the Israeli Palestinian

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conflict can only comes through a

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two-state solution a future in which two

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states live side by side in peace and

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security so what do people actually mean

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when they talk about a two-state

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solution how long has the idea been

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around and why do some people think that

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it's become more of an avoidance

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strategy that lets politicians off the

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hook they use this as a tool to absolve

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themselves of responsibility it's a form

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of

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escapism

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the two-state solution is all about

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deciding how this land is divided who

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lives there and who controls it now you

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might think it's about getting Israelis

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and Palestinians to agree on a simple

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split but there's nothing simple about

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it just look at the map for a start this

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is Israel and then you have the

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Palestinian territories which are under

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Israeli military occupation and cut off

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from each other gaza's here Israel's war

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has left the strip in Ruins and the West

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Bank is more like a patchwork of

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Palestinian land because of all the

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settlements Israel has built over the

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years these are illegal under

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international law there are now 700,000

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Israeli settlers living on Palestinian

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land and it makes the path to a

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Palestinian State much more complicated

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if this was meant to be a question of

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two states and if it was question of

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drawing a border believe me a border

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would have been drawn a long time ago

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the problem is is that this has never

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been about a line it's about the rights

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of individuals it's about history the

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region of Palestine has been fought over

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for thousands of years and controlled by

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different ancient kingdoms and empires

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in more modern times it was part of the

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Ottoman Empire but the British took

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control there during the first world war

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and it later became known as British

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mandate Palestine the population was 78%

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Muslim 11% Jewish and 10% Christian

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according to a census in

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1922 now even before they took control

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the British supported the idea of

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establishing a Jewish homeland in

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Palestine it was stated in a letter

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known as the Balor declaration and the

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Jews were promised a national home in

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Palestine that was the aim of a movement

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called Zionism it encouraged Jews to

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move to British mandate Palestine and in

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the 1920s and 30s more and more did many

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were fleeing persecution in Europe but

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the growing Jewish population led to

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tension with the local Arab population

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the Palestinians Jewish and Arab armed

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groups cropped up and there was

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violence in response a British

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commission suggested partitioning the

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land but there was no support for the

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idea the scheme to divide the country

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between Arabs and Jews has pleased

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nobody in Palestine an agitation has

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fended discontent to the point of

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terrorism in the 1940s the question of

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what should happen in Palestine grew

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more urgent so did pressure to establish

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a Jewish homeland especially after World

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War II and the

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Holocaust in 194 7 the British asked the

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United Nations to make recommendations

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on the future government of

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Palestine and this is what they came up

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with another partition plan which

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allocated 56% of the land to a Jewish

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State and left 43% for an Arab State the

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remaining land including Jerusalem with

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all of its holy sites would be under

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International control the UN General

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Assembly voted to adopt the plan Jewish

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leaders accepted it but Arab leaders

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rejected it they saw it as deeply unfair

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especially because the Arab population

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was the

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majority the following year Israel went

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ahead and declared itself a state and

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five Arab Nations went to war with

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Israel Israel calls it their war of

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independence Palestinians call it the

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neba which means catastrophe because in

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that fighting more than 700,000

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Palestinians fled or were forced from

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their homes many ended up in Jordan

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Lebanon and Syria by the way that's

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important to know about because when

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people talk about a few future

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Palestinian State one of the big

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questions is whether all those

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Palestinians and their descendants will

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get to go back What's called the right

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of

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return now after the 1948 War Israel

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ended up with 78% of the land so more

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than the UN partition plan that left 22%

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for Palestinians to live in split

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between the West Bank and East Jerusalem

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which Jordan controlled and Gaza which

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Egypt controlled those borders became

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known as the Green line they're still

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the internationally recognized borders

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of Israel and it's more or less the

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division that many people have in mind

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when talking about a two-state solution

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but then in 1967 there was another War

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Israel pushed out Jordan and Egypt

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seized control of the West Bank East

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Jerusalem and Gaza and imposed a

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military occupation many many many

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countries then started to put pressure

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on Palestinians to say You must

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recognize Israel's existence you have to

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recognize that Israel took over 78% of

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your historic Homeland and instead let's

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try to get back that remaining 22% in

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the Palestinian side the idea of

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territorial partition was very very

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difficult uh but by the 1970s there are

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some who were pushing saying you know

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look we're never going to get all of

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historic Palestine we can build a state

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on a portion of liberated Palestine and

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in 1988 there was an official shift by

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that point the pl o the Palestinian

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Liberation Organization had become the

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main group representing Palestinians and

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their cause its chairman yaser arat

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declared the independence of

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[Music]

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[Applause]

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Palestine and although the Declaration

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was mostly symbolic it was important

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because Arafat also made it clear that

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he accepted the principle of partition

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and the existence of Israel that helped

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pave the way for the Oslo Accords a pair

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of agreements which are seen as the

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beginning of the peace process it

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started out with secret talks in

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Norway's capital that's where the name

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comes from and it led to this

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moment the Israeli and Palestinian

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leaders shaking hands on the White House

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lawn after Decades of fighting they

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declared their commitment to Peaceful

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coexistence so what were the details of

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Oslo well in The First Agreement 1993

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the two sides formally recognized each

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other which was a big deal they set out

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a timetable for Israel to start

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withdrawing from parts of the occupied

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territories and for Palestinians to get

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more autonomy that led to the creation

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of the Palestinian Authority or PA

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although its power was and still is

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limited it's more like a local Council

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than a government and the PA only

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operates in parts of the Palestinian

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territories because in the second dolo

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agreement the West Bank was carved up

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into three administrative areas what the

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peace process was all about was not

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about Israel accepting the 78% and

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letting Palestinians live freely in the

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remaining

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22% instead what it was about was Israel

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takes the 78% puts it in its pocket and

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then negotiates over the remaining 22%

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now the Alo Accords were interim

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Arrangements they were only supposed to

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last 5 years and in that time the two

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sides Were Meant to to negotiate the

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really tough stuff what are called the

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permanent status issues so things like

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how to share Jerusalem the city has huge

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religious importance for both sides and

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they both see it as their Capital the

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issue of Palestinian refugees and

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whether they get the right of return we

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mentioned earlier what to do about all

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the Israeli settlements security

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arrangements and where you draw those

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final borders so Oslo looked like it was

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heading in the direction of a two-state

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solution but it wasn't actually out the

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Osa Accords are sometimes remembered as

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having um sort of promised a two-state

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solution that is absolutely and

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completely false it's very very work

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carefully drafted in order to avoid

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mentioning anything about Palestinian

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State still the two sides were talking

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to each other there was a lot of

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diplomacy going on and many people felt

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optimistic about it there were a lot of

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Peace conferences on all kind of levels

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Grassroots politicians journalists

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artists there was a hope in the air but

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there was opposition to the peace

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process too on both

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sides in Israel there were big protests

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against Oslo close to half of the

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society that said we're not on board

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with this process talking to terrorists

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this is going to uh mean Israeli

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withdrawal from territory that is an

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essential part of the land of Israel in

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1995 a Jewish nationalist who rejected

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the peace process assassinated prime

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minister Yak rabim so very early on one

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of the main architects of the oso

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Accords was

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[Music]

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gone there was also opposition on the

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Palestinian side for lots of reasons

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there are many Palestinians ill and they

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were also in the late

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90s who didn't agree with the p of

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Arafat namely that the Palestinian

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should recognize the state of Israel

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there are many Palestinians who believe

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that all Palestine belongs to the

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Palestinian People Israel took it from

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them in 48 and they feel that there's no

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room for

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compromise that was the position of some

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armed groups like Hamas and Palestinian

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Islamic Jihad who carried out attacks on

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Israel there were also Palestinians who

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opposed Oslo because of their

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frustration about how little it was

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delivering Israel never fully withdrew

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from the territory it promised and it

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kept building settlements we'll come

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back to that in a minute at least part

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of the Palestinians feel that they are

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cheated that this was a c for Effective

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Israeli annexation just a complete

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disillusionment with diplomacy a

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complete disillusionment with

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negotiations with the with with the Oslo

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process and and and so on by the end of

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the 9s oslo's 5-year time frame was up

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and the peace process was basically on

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life support there was a push to save it

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at Camp David the US president country

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Retreat how is it going Mr President how

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long is it going to take Mr

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President we pledged to each other we

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would answer no questions and offer no

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comments but the summit ended without an

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agreement and if anything there was more

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distrust as both sides blamed each other

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for the

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failure soon after that frustration and

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anger boiled over the trigger was this

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visit by a senior Israeli politician to

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the alaxa Moss compound in East

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Jerusalem a super inflammatory move

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check out our episode on aloa if you

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want to understand why there were riots

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and it led to an uprising known as the

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second

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inata Palestinians staged huge protests

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some carried out attacks on Israel and

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Israel used heavy military force against

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Palestinians it was more than 4 years of

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intense conflict and all the peace

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efforts just were burning in the fire of

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the intifa but they weren't complet

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completely extinguished there were many

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more attempts over the years to get the

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peace process back on track and the

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two-state solution became the stated

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goal of all that diplomacy they begin to

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say maybe one of the problems with Oslo

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is it didn't spell out any end so let's

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spell something out let's give something

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to the

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Palestinians um and this is when you

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begin to have open declarations from the

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United States that there should be an

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entity called Palestine at the end but

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while the International Community seemed

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to be doubling down on the two-state

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idea there were other developments

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pulling momentum in the opposite

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direction let's run through three major

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ones starting with settlements which

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Israel kept on expanding even during the

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height of the peace process it was as

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though the Oslo agreements gave Israel

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the green light to build and expand

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settlements with the thinking being and

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they used to say this we have to take

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every Hilltop and then we can negotiate

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down and and that's why between the

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years of 1993 to the year 2000 that's

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why we saw virtually a doubling in the

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number of settlers from 200,000 to

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almost

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400,000 once you are not ready to freeze

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the

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settlements you give the message that

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you don't agree to a Palestinian State

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cuz if you have an intention to continue

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to build on Palestinian ground so for

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sure you have no intention to evacuate

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it then there's the way that Politics on

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both sides have developed since the

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early 2000s on the Israeli side there's

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been a strong shift to the right and

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fewer politicians who back the two-state

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idea an ultra nationalist ideology that

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was once thought of as Extreme has now

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become part of the

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mainstream settlers who openly call for

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the full annexation of all Palestinian

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territory are government ministers

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and in his speech at the UN prime

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minister Benjamin Netanyahu held up a

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map of Israel that covered the whole

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land on the Palestinian side the

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challenge is more about who actually

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speaks for the Palestinian people

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because it's not that clear you've got

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the PLO which still represents

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Palestinians internationally Arafat was

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the chairman but he died in a suspected

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poisoning in 2004 and was replaced by

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Mahmud abas Abbas is also the president

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of the PA but the PA doesn't operate in

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Gaza anymore because after elections in

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2006 Hamas ended up in control there so

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Palestinian leadership is already split

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and then there are bigger questions

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around legitimacy there haven't been

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elections since that vote in 2006 these

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days abas is pretty unpopular he's seen

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as old and out of touch and the PA is

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accused of being corrupt and working too

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closely with israelian authority not

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only does not have any um uh credibility

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and doesn't no longer has any capacity

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it's virtually disintegrating in the

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West Bank on the other hand polls show

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that Hamas and its leader isma Han are

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more popular than Mahmud Abbas but

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several countries classify Hamas as a

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terrorist organization and refuse to

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recognize it as a representative of

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Palestinians so where has all of this

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left the peace process well dead

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basically the last time there were

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direct negotiations about a two-state

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solution was in 2014 during the Obama

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Administration so a decade ago you need

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uh credible leaders in Israel and

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Palestine which we we don't have you

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need serious mediation from outside

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which we don't have and you need a

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mobilized uh Regional and Global public

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opinion to support the two negotiating

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parties but it's nowhere on the horizon

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right now this is where the US also

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comes in for a lot of criticism because

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while it's always had an important role

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as a mediator the US is also Israel's

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biggest Ally and

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protector Americans

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have such a leverage over Israel who

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Israel is politically economically

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diplomatically internationally and

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obviously H militarily totally dependent

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on the United States they never really

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took measures to push Israel they just

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you know condemned Israel

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with talking you don't get

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anything and then there's everything

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that's happened since October 7th

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2023 around 1,00 people were killed in

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hamas's attacks on Israel that's

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according to the Israeli

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authorities in response Israel vowed to

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wipe out Hamas its war on Gaza has

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killed more than 31,000 Palestinians

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most of them women and

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children the un's highest court said

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there is a plausible risk of

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[Music]

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genocide and against that horrifying

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backdrop Talk of the two-state solution

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is back it's once again being presented

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as the only option for lasting Peace by

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a range of world leaders and

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organizations the United States

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continues to believe that the best

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viable path indeed the only path is

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through a two-state

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solution

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what's the Palestinian position well the

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two-state solution Remains the stated

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goal of the PLO hamas's position is less

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clear in 2017 they published a document

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that did accept the formation of a

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Palestinian State along the 1967 borders

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some took it to mean that Hamas was open

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to diplomacy but Hamas is never

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explicitly recognized Israel and it

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maintains its right to use violence

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against the occupation as for Israel's

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current position well officials from the

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Prime Minister down have repeatedly

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rejected the idea of a two-state

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solution is there still a chance for a

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two-state solution I think it's about

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time for the world to realize the oso

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Paradigm failed on the 7th of October

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and we need to build a new one and in

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order to build a new one do that new one

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include the Palestinians living in a

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state of their own is that what it

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includes biggest question is what type

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of Palestinians are in the other side

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this what Israel realized o the answer

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is absolutely no it's not that the

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two-state solution is absolutely utterly

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forever impossible it's just politically

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very very unlikely and would require

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such a coincidence of interests and

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political determination that his

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likelihood is extremely slim so there's

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a lot of skepticism plus there's an

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accusation that all the talk of a

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two-state solution is actually part of

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the problem those words have become the

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Fig Leaf it's become a way of plating

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Palestinians very very convenient to

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believe that there is a

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solution somewhere on the on the shelf

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and one day we will take it and use it

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but it's not there anymore some people

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argue that there needs to be a more

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drastic change in mindset to one that's

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more realistic about the current

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situation where you've got one state the

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state of Israel that has almost total

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control over Palestinian life and

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enforces a system of discrimination that

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human rights groups describe as

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apartheid the argument goes why not

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focus on fixing that with a one-state

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solution so rather than dividing the

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land you focus on how to govern it and

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ensure everyone's rights are protected

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regardless of their religion or

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ethnicity we have a one state we don't

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have to create it we have to create a

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new regime only to turn it from an

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aparte system to a to a democracy I

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don't want to oversimplify it it's right

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now it seems Unthinkable it's not like

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we will do a magic and this will

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work but at least I can see a road

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somewhere often times people talk in

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terms of escapism oh this will be undone

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with one-state solution or be undone

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with uh a two-state solution

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but what we really need to focus on is

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ending that violence will Palestinians

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do they want to have their own separate

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entity their own separate State

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certainly some do but the vast majority

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are not looking to have a state the vast

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majority are looking to have that their

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rights are enshrined and protected and

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that's got to be the starting

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point

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we've done lots of other explainers

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related to Israel and Palestine here's

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one we filmed in East Jerusalem this one

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is all about the US Israel

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[Music]

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relationship

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Related Tags
Two-StateIsraelPalestineConflictPeace ProcessHistoryGazaWest BankSettlementsDiplomacy