The Two State Solution

Sixty years have passed since the birth of the State of Israel, yet to this day, no Palestinian State has formed. My original solution to the Palestinian-Israeli crisis, was one unified and independent state in which Jews and Arabs coexist peacefully in Historic Palestine. Yet, that is never going to happen. So now I resort to the two state solution. This solution, as many people have been talking about for many years is to establish a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza. However, to some Palestinians, and Arabs in general, this is giving up to Israeli Occupation, and to accept this solution would be an act of cowardice. However, after I have given this issue a lot of thought, and researched into the history of this region, I think this is the only thing that will solve all the violence and terror that is going on in the Holy Land. When we talk about this solution, the Right of Return of Palestinians is always discussed and always seems to complicate the already tangled plan. Why should Jews from all over the world have the right to come to Israel and establish their homes, yet Palestinians do not. Some people that leave Jerusalem for example, can never enter it, even if it is their birthplace. All Palestinians were expelled from their homes in Palestine after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, and went to the West Bank. These people lived in poor infrastructure, refugee camps, a place where no person can tolerate. However, now could be the chance to change all that. By working to establish a Palestinian State in the West Bank and Gaza, the Palestinians can then modernize their lives, elect a government, build airports and modern cities, thrive tourism and most importantly live in peace. But, another flaw that tends to creep up into these discussions is the amount of land. If this state was to be created, Israel would have 78 percent of Historic Palestine, and Palestinians would have only 22 percent. Another flaw are the vast numbers of settlements in the West Bank. Those are to be removed before this process can ever take place, yet the Israeli Government is very reluctant to take such a step, because the settlers are not willing to go. And by taking such a step, the Israeli Government could see an uprising from their people. The most important topic to be discussed is Jerusalem. Many Palestinians are looking towards East Jerusalem as the capital of the new Palestinian state that is to be established. However, it is crazy to cut in half this holy city, which means cutting in half all the sacred sites of the Muslims, Jews and Christians alike, as in the case of the Temple Mount, or the "Haram al Sharif" as known to Muslims. This is the third most sacred site in the world for Muslims, and they want to be its custodians, its keepers. However Israel wants the same site, and is not willing to give it up. My opinion on the issue of Jerusalem as the capital of both states is preposterous. Jerusalem should not be cut in half like a peace of meat. This city should be under the rule of the United Nations, as an international city, not belonging to any state, just like the Vatican. People, Muslims, Jews, and Christians should be able to move freely, with full safety and re-assurance. The first step in this peace process, is the recognition of both sides, and to stop all the violence from both sides.