In the Spirit of the Gracious and Compassionate
Creator of the Heavens and the Earth
Resolving the Palestine situation — five points:
1. Form One State.
Form one state, not two. Separation – a form of segregation or Bantustan – is a bad idea. The current nation of Israel will not feel secure with a viable Palestinian state as its neighbor. A dependent, non-viable Palestinian state will perpetuate the cycle of violence on a larger scale.
2. Name the One State “Israel”.
Keep the name “Israel”. It is a good name — in both the Bible and the Qur’an. In full, it could be called The New Democratic Republic of Israel or The Democratic Republic of New Israel or just The Democratic Republic of Israel.
3. Have a written constitution.
Currently, Israel does not have a written constitution. There should be no second-class citizenship. All citizens should have the same rights. Thus, it would be neither a Jewish state nor an Islamic state. Fourteen centuries ago, Muhammad established a government in Madinah with a written constitution respecting the rights of Muslims and non-Muslims; it was not an Islamic State as that concept is currently understood. The United Nations should hold the new Israel to the standards of the UN Charter and of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
4. Have a Law of Return.
There would be a law of return in which every reasonable case would be heard. Jews and Palestinians who wish to settle in the new Israel would have preference over others.
5. Have an Independent Jerusalem.
Jerusalem would be an independent city whose government would represent the interests of Muslims, Christians and Jews worldwide. This government would be charged with protecting all sacred places and rites.
With this government’s permission, Jerusalem could be the capital of Israel.
Lester A. Knibbs
March 17, 2025
Which Way Is Up? 