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Psychological Diplomacy in the Face of a "Two-State" Tsunami: The "Puerto Rico Solution"

(Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs) Irwin J. Mansdorf, Ph.D. - While the "two-state" solution is almost universally accepted as "the only" solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict, the reality of a full-fledged Palestinian "state" is not something most Israelis can accept, certainly not post-October 7, 2023. While many outsiders see a Palestinian state as the "fair" thing to do and a reasonable solution that would solve the conflict, this logic lacks credibility in a reality where Palestinians, both leadership and society, refuse to accept the existence of Israel as a Jewish state. Instead, we have a generational culture of Jew-hatred where the goal is not a state alongside Israel but a state instead of Israel. The continued popularity of Hamas among Palestinians in the face of the horrors of Oct. 7 serves as a constant reminder of the futility of seeking a Western solution in a Middle Eastern framework. How do we morph the Western obsession with "two states" into a situation that Israel can live with? It is the perception of a "state" that requires change. A Palestinian "state" can never pose a military threat to Israel. It cannot oppose peaceful coexistence. It can't enter into treaties with states hostile to Israel, and it can't continue to educate to hate. It can't host terror organizations, and it can't deny Jewish rights to the land. The same world that calls for Palestinian independence plays a different game itself. France, the first Western country to call for Palestinian independence, rules over 13 separate territories outside of France whose national identity as independent nations is not recognized. The United Kingdom has 14 British Overseas Territories, all of which are subject to British constitutional oversight and authority over defense, foreign relations, and internal security. Americans have Puerto Rico, which is neither a sovereign country nor a U.S. state. Their language is Spanish, and their cultural identity is Puerto Rican. They have their own flag and their own representation in international events, such as the Olympics. In theory, the Puerto Rico model provides independence and self-determination within a framework that protects Israelis and maintains national identity for both sides. The "two-state solution" that is parroted by so many needs to look at how a Palestinian "Puerto Rico" or a British or French-style "overseas territory" will look. It is all a matter of psychological diplomacy. The writer is a clinical psychologist and a fellow at the Jerusalem Center specializing in political psychology.
2025-09-09 00:00:00
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