Michael Tarazi, Esq., Advisor to the Palestinian Authority
In 1988, reported Michael Tarazi, Israel was recognized on 78% of historic Palestine, and it was agreed that the remaining 22% would become the Palestinian state. Statehood has not happened for Palestine, and according to Tarazi, there is good news and bad news. The good news is that the perceived obstacles of Jerusalem, the settlements, and the refugees are not really obstacles. On the subject of Jerusalem, Tarazi defined the Israeli position that Jerusalem is the eternal undivided capital of the Jewish people. He also reiterated that under international law, Israel does not have a right to any part of East Jerusalem.
With this in mind, though, Tarazi was confident that there were enough options available to reach a compromise on Jerusalem. Option A would make it an open city where anyone could come into the city without a passport and, upon leaving, would have to show a passport to enter either Israel or Palestine. Option B would create a shared city with one representative municipal council. Option C would be a shared city with divided sovereignty over particular areas. Indeed, Tarazi said, there are options even beyond these with regard to how we can share Jerusalem.
With regard to the settlements, Tarazi noted that there are currently about 400,000 settlers in over 200 settlements. Half of these settlers are in East Jerusalem. Israel generally asserts that this is just too many people to move and that they should be allowed to annex the territory of the settlements and the water beneath the settlements and the agricultural land near the settlements.
In 1988, reported Michael Tarazi, Israel was recognized on 78% of historic Palestine, and it was agreed that the remaining 22% would become the Palestinian state. Statehood has not happened for Palestine, and according to Tarazi, there is good news and bad news. The good news is that the perceived obstacles of Jerusalem, the settlements, and the refugees are not really obstacles. On the subject of Jerusalem, Tarazi defined the Israeli position that Jerusalem is the eternal undivided capital of the Jewish people. He also reiterated that under international law, Israel does not have a right to any part of East Jerusalem.
With this in mind, though, Tarazi was confident that there were enough options available to reach a compromise on Jerusalem. Option A would make it an open city where anyone could come into the city without a passport and, upon leaving, would have to show a passport to enter either Israel or Palestine. Option B would create a shared city with one representative municipal council. Option C would be a shared city with divided sovereignty over particular areas. Indeed, Tarazi said, there are options even beyond these with regard to how we can share Jerusalem.
With regard to the settlements, Tarazi noted that there are currently about 400,000 settlers in over 200 settlements. Half of these settlers are in East Jerusalem. Israel generally asserts that this is just too many people to move and that they should be allowed to annex the territory of the settlements and the water beneath the settlements and the agricultural land near the settlements.