Israel and its neighbors, most recently Hamas extremists in Gaza, have been in all-out war since 10/7. Is a two-state solution really a solution?
Hi, I’m Rex Rogers and this is episode #240 of Discerning What Is Best, a podcast applying unchanging biblical principles in a rapidly changing world, and a Christian worldview to current issues and everyday life.
“The war in Gaza has focused attention once again on the search for solutions to the Israeli Palestinian conflict. The solution favored by the United States, the European Union, most of the world’s democracies, and the United Nations has long been the two-state solution. This formula calls for two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side peacefully with security for both.”
After WWI, the Peel Commission, 7 July 1937, proposed Palestine be partitioned into three zones: Arab state, Jewish state, neutral territory containing the holy places. This recommendation to “partition” became the first official call for what later was termed a two-state solution.
Since 1937, a “two-state solution” calling for a Jewish state—Israel—and a separate, independent Palestinian State—some say in Gaza, some say place it elsewhere—has been proposed at least ten times (e.g., 1947, 1948, 1967, 1973, 2005, 2006), each time rejected by Arab nations and whatever group represented Palestinians at the time.
After WWII, “The U.N. General Assembly voted in 1947 to divide Palestine into two states, one Jewish and one Arab.” Officially, “the 1947 UN Partition Plan was the first (bona fide and geographical) attempt to realize a two-state solution.”
Meanwhile, some “81% of US Christians believe in a two-state solution, with 88% also saying that Israelis have the right to determine their statehood and government and 76% that the Palestinians have the same right. (This survey of more than 1,200 American Christian views on the Israel-Hamas war was conducted by Lifeway Research on behalf of the Philos Project. It was conducted online between November 14 and 21 (2023) using a national pre-recruited panel of Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Christians).”
A “one-state solution” has been called a “bi-national state.” “Contrary to the two-state solution, the entire territory of former Mandatory Palestine is not divided between the two parties. Instead, the area serves as a common homeland for both Jews and Palestinians. In the bi-national state, citizens of both nations will have one joint country, one constitution, and one democratically elected government.
Although the government is democratically elected, it will be proportionally represented by multiple interest groups. Furthermore, this state cannot be Jewish or Islamic, as one of the groups would have an advantage.”
This proposal highlights one of the many problems when you conceive of a “Jewish” nation-state. In December 2023, some “73.2% (about 7,208,000) are Jews, including about 503,000 living outside the self-defined borders of the State of Israel in the West Bank. About 21.1% (around 2,080,000) are Israeli citizens classified as Arab, some identifying as Palestinian, and including Druze, Circassians, all other Muslims, Christian Arabs, Armenians (which Israel considers "Arab"). An additional 5.7% (roughly 554,000) are classified as "others." This diverse group comprises those with Jewish ancestry but not recognized as Jewish by religious law, non-Jewish family members of Jewish immigrants, Christians other than Arabs and Armenians, and residents without a distinct ethnic or religious categorization.”
In a one-state solution, both Jews and Palestinians worry the other group will outpace their own, via birthrates or immigration, gaining a stronger representation. Herein is the problem I noted. Building a nation-state around a given ethnicity leads to demographic imbalance or political limitations via control.
Most recently, President Trump said he is against a two-state solution, the first American President to take this position. Partly this is due to what he considered rampant support of Gazans for 10/7. Others who oppose a two-state solution argue that:
1) God gave Israel to the Jews,
2) a Palestinian state would be a terror state on Israel’s border, and a
3) two-state solution would reward terrorism, creating a strategic and military nightmare for the state of Israel.
One reason a two-state solution has always been problematic is that has always largely been a Western idea, not really one born in the Middle East. Yes, Middle Easterners were involved in earlier proposals, and yes some of them affirmed the idea, but for the most part it’s been something pushed from outside.
While a two-state solution seems and may indeed be “rational,” that’s also part of the problem. Relationships between Jews and Arabs, Israelis and Palestinians, are more emotional, cultural, and political than rational. Simply because an idea makes sense on paper does not mean it makes sense to those expected not only to endorse it but to live by and in it.
Many American Christian leaders support a two-state solution. But this approach is not supported by all Christians. Some who call themselves Christian Zionists are not in favor of a two-state solution and then some are. Usually, support or rejection of the idea turns on whether people believe Jews have a divine right to the land that reaches back to biblical times. And there is also the ongoing legitimate concern for security.
The raison d'être, the very reason for existence, of Hamas, and some other extremist terrorist groups, is based upon hatred for Israel, a commitment to see the nation destroyed, and vows to exterminate all Jews. As American-Israel author Joel C. Rosenberg says, “You can’t make peace with people who don’t want peace.”
If there is any practical hope, “a just and moral solution to the conflict necessitates a Palestinian leadership that is genuinely committed to peace and ending its culture of incitement against the Jewish people…Sadly, Palestinian political culture continues to glorify terrorism and denies Israel’s right to exist.”
Let’s look in the Bible for a moment. “Scripture is clear that God has assigned the land to Israel (Gen. 12:1–7; Ex. 6:8), and prophecy speaks of its full restoration (Jer. 30:1-3; Ezek. 36:24–28). Scripture also repeatedly warns against unjust division of God’s land (Joel 3:1–3) and foretells judgment on nations that divide the land and mistreat God’s people, while Ezekiel 36:5 condemns nations that claim possession of Israel’s land with “utter contempt.” Furthermore, Numbers 35:33–34 warns against polluting the land through bloodshed—a consequence that any forced political solution risks incurring. Ultimately, God makes clear that the land belongs to the (Lord) (Lev. 25:23), and for this reason responsible stewardship of it is paramount.”
“The Jewish connection to the land is ancient and well-documented. The term ‘Jew’ derives from ‘Judea,’ a central region of Israel. Scripture, archaeological evidence and an enduring Jewish presence – even during exile – affirm this bond.
After crushing the Bar Kokhba revolt in 135 CE, Rome renamed Judea ‘Palestina’ after the Philistines to mock the Jews. ‘Palestine’ referred to a geographic region at the time, not a distinct national identity.”
“The Middle East’s problems will not be solved by reducing them to hashtags or campus chants. They require patient engagement, nuanced understanding, and the kind of costly love that characterizes authentic Christian witness. This means speaking truthfully about Hamas’s terrorism while also acknowledging Palestinian suffering. It means supporting Israel’s right to defend itself while questioning whether all tactics serve the cause of justice. It means caring about Gaza while not forgetting those suffering in many other situations in the Middle East. It means advocating for Palestinian Christians while also defending Jewish families.”
In principle, I am in favor of a two-state solution, meaning I think it’s rational and ostensibly fair. But I favor a two-state solution only if Israel’s security can be maintained, only if Hamas terrorist leaders in Gaza are removed and others in leadership who follow truly renounce terrorism, and only if Hamas’s prime directive of eliminating Israel and all Jews is buried deep in the sands.
I also recognize the genuine plight of Palestinians, unwanted by Arab nations, caught in the middle of misery with no way out. They, too, need a solution.
I admit that the likelihood of this happening is slim, or at least is not predictable, currently. And one other major consideration not addressed here: peace between Israel and Palestine is inextricably tied in with what’s happening in Iran, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, and more.
Our ultimate hope lies not in political solutions but in the Prince of Peace who will one day make all things right.
Well, we’ll see you again soon. This podcast is about Discerning What Is Best. If you find this thought-provoking and helpful, follow us on your favorite podcast platform. For more Christian commentary, see my website, r-e-x-m as in Martin, that’s rexmrogers.com, or check my YouTube channel @DrRexRogers.
And remember, it is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm.
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