Gaza In Crisis

do you think that in view of the "facts on the ground" (settlements, bypass roads) created by Israel a two-state solution is still possible?

Pappe: The facts on the ground have rendered a two-state solution impossible a long time ago. The facts indicated that there was never and will never be Israeli consent to a Palestinian state apart from a stateless state within two bantustans in the West Bank and Gaza, totally under Israeli control.

There is already one state and the struggle is to change its nature and regime. Whether the new regime and constitutional basis would be binational or democratic, or maybe even both, is less significant at this point. Any political outfit that would replace the present racist state of affairs is welcome. Any such outfit should also enable the refugees to return and even the most recent immigrants to remain.

But let me add two points: One is that the country as a whole is on the verge of a civil war that could engulf the Palestinians inside Israel.

This would be a terrible development, but might hasten the final burial of the two-state solution and its distorted logic and justice. Two, the principle to which all should adhere is not imposing an ideal model at this point as a litmus test for loyalty to the cause or commitment to peace. Rather one should seek out an inclusive approach that would bring to the fore the significant common agenda that exists between various camps that are now part of the struggle for Palestine. It is better to hammer out these divergences of opinion now than to leave it for a future battle.

Chomsky: Today there are two options for Palestinians. One is U.S.-Israeli abandonment of their rejectionist stance, and a settlement roughly along the lines of what was being approached at Taba. The other option is continuation of current policies, which lead, inexorably,