Two-state solution

Abstract: The breakthrough character of the Oslo agreement is attributed to the mutual recognition between the State of Israel and the PLO and the opening of direct negotiations between them. The parties were induced to go to Oslo and negotiate an agreement there by macro-level forces evolving over some time: Long-term changes, going back to the 1967 War, and short-term strategic and domestic-political considerations, resulting from the Gulf War and the end of the Cold War, created new interests that persuaded them of the necessity of negotiating a compromise; and unofficial interactions between the two sides over the course of two decades persuaded them of the possibility of doing so. Once the parties decided to negotiate, the micro-process provided by Oslo, with its peculiar mixture of track-one and track-two elements, contributed to the success of the negotiations. Key elements included secrecy, the setting, the status of the initial participants, the nature of the third party, and the nature of the mediation process. Finally, what made the accord viable were some of its main substantive features, including the exchange of letters of mutual recognition, the distinction between the interim and the final stage, and the territorial base and early empowerment of the Palestinian Authority.

Abstract: * Contents * 1. Introduction: Palestine as a colonial issue - Jamil Hilal * 2. Israel between the "danger of demography" and the binational reality - As'ad Ghanem * 3. Zionist and Israel perspectives on the two-state solution - Ilan Pappe' * 4. The paradox of self-determination in Palestine - Nils ButenschOn * 5. The Bush Administration's "vision" of the two-state solution - Husam A. Mohamed * 6. The Economic viability of an independent Palestinian state on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip - Sufyan Alissa * 7. The Transformation of Palestinian environment and the viability of the two-state solution - Jad Isaac and Owen Powell * 8. Hamas from opposition to rule, precursors and possible outcome - Ziad Abu-Amr * 9. Hamas and the quest for Palestinian statehood - Are Knudsen and Basem Ezbidi * 10. Alternative Approaches for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict - Sharif S. Elmusa * 11. Voices of al shatat and the way forward - Karma Nabulsi

Abstract: Introduction Susan Akram, Michael Dumper, Michael Lynk and Iain Scobbie Part I: Core Issues: Refugees and Jerusalem 1. The Palestinian Refugees: Protection and Assistance Scott Custer 2. The Palestinian Refugees: Durable Solutions Susan Akram 3. The Palestinian Refugees: Restitution and Compensation Terry Rempel and Paul Prettitore 4. Jerusalem Michael Dumper Part II: Security 5. The ICJ Advisory Opinion: Decolonization and the Law Stephanie Khouri 6. Security and International Law in the Israel-Palestine Conflict Omar Dajani Part III: Legal and Political Frameworks for a Durable Peace 7. Principles of Self-Determination in International Law, Applied to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict John Quigley 8. The Right to Natural Resources Iain Scobbie 9. Building the Rule of Law in Palestine Fares Milhem and Jamil Salem Part IV: Debating the Future 10. The Two State Solution Ian Lustick 11. The One State Solution George Bisharat