Two-State Solution vs. Confederation Model: Ways out of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Can the Israeli-Palestinian conflict be managed or contained without a political solution? The terror attacks by Hamas and other armed groups on Israel on October 7, 2023 and the subsequent war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza have disproven this notion.. A political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is essential to break through the cycles of violence, prevent further bloodshed and create a safe and peaceful future for Israelis, Palestinians and the entire region.

But which paths can lead out of this conflict? What could feasible and sustainable solutions look like? 

In the wake of October 7th and in view of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, the concept of two states for two peoples has experienced a renaissance among governments and institutions on the international level. However, there are hardly any robust political approaches for implementing such a solution. Others advocate a confederation as a solution to the conflict – an approach that consciously opposes the separation of Israelis and Palestinians into two independent states. It instead highlights the need for power sharing and cooperation in areas of common interest. While a one-state solution with equal rights for all appears more distant than ever, maximalist demands for all the land “between the river and the sea” for either Palestinians or Israelis are on the rise.

Against this background, the New Israel Fund Germany and the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung invite proponents of a Two-State Solution and a Confederation Model to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the respective approaches. Knowing that any solution to the current war in Gaza must be linked to a long-term perspective for dealing with and resolving the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, we want to discuss the following questions with our guests: What are the advantages and disadvantages of a two-state solution or a confederation model? Which political forces in Israel and Palestine champion these approaches and how can they gain more support in their respective societies? How can regional and international actors actively contribute to creating a political horizon for a conflict resolution – over the longer run, but also for the immediate future of Gaza? How should Germany implement its political commitment to a two-state solution vis-à-vis the parties to the conflict?

Welcome:

• Jan Philipp Albrecht, Co-President of Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung
• Jörn Böhme, Co-Chair New Israel Fund Germany

With:

• Dr. Gil Murciano, MITVIM - The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies
• Dr. Rula Hardal, A Land for All - Two States One Homeland
• Dr. Tobias Tunkel, Director General of the Near East, Middle East and North Africa Region at the German Foreign Ministry

Moderation: Dr. Muriel Asseburg, German Institute for International and Security Affairs

Language: English with simultaneous translation into German.

The event is organized in cooperation with New Israel Fund Germany. 

Information:        
Bauke Baumann
Senior Programme Officer
Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung
E baumann@boell.de
T +49(0)285 34 -321

» Participation on site
at the the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Conference Center, Schumannstr. 8, 10117 Berlin

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