From Partition to Peace? A Retrospective on Religion and Reconciliation in Palestine/Israel

Abstract

The broad contours of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict are ever changing. However, one thing that remains constant is a strong commitment, especially by Israeli policymakers, to the “two-state solution,” which advocates for the partition of the historic land of Palestine into two states, one Israeli and one Palestinian. This essay is a retrospective on the two-state solution and the lessons learned from years of scholarship on religion, reconciliation, and conflict transformation that illustrate the solution’s pitfalls. It begins by analyzing the legacy of the original partition plan and how changes resulting from decades of conflict challenge its viability. It then synthesizes scholarship on religion, reconciliation, and the possibilities of collective identity in Palestine/Israel. The essay then articulates an alternative to partition, the “binational solution,” as a way forward that better aligns with the findings of scholars. A final section concludes by discussing avenues for future research and debate.