Two-State Solution (International Relations)
Two-State Solution (International Relations)
Why In News:
Renewed international efforts to recognise Palestinian statehood have brought the two-state solution back to the centre of West Asia diplomacy.
What is the Two-State Solution?
The two-state solution envisages an independent and sovereign State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel, with both states enjoying security and political self-determination.
The idea gained renewed diplomatic importance through the Oslo Accords of 1993, under which Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) mutually recognised each other and agreed to establish limited Palestinian self-government.
The Oslo process created the Palestinian Authority (PA) as an interim self-governing body for parts of the West Bank and Gaza.
However, the process did not resolve the major final-status issues, including Jerusalem, borders, Israeli settlements, Palestinian refugees and security arrangements.
Major Obstacles to the Peace Process
Gaza: Ongoing conflict, humanitarian crisis, and unresolved questions of governance, security and reconstruction hinder peace negotiations.
West Bank:Israeli settlements and fragmented territorial control challenge the creation of a contiguous and viable Palestinian state.
Regional tensions: Iran, Hezbollah and the Houthis have widened the conflict, adding a broader regional security dimension to the peace process.
International Role
United Nations: Provides a diplomatic platform for negotiations and humanitarian coordination, while the question of Palestinian statehood has repeatedly featured in UN deliberations.
Arab States: Normalisation initiatives such as the Abraham Accords have created new regional diplomatic dynamics.
The Abraham Accords are a series of joint normalization agreements between Israel, the United States, and several Arab and Muslim-majority nations.
Signed on September 15, 2020, the historic pacts established formal diplomatic ties, trade, and security cooperation between Israel and countries like the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, followed by Morocco and Sudan
India has consistently supported a two-state solution, favouring a sovereign, viable and independent Palestinian state living alongside Israel in peace and security.
Key Facts for Prelims
The West Bank lies between Israel and Jordan, while the Gaza Strip borders Israel and Egypt along the Mediterranean coast.
The PLO, established in 1964, is the principal political organisation representing Palestinians internationally, while the Palestinian Authority administers limited areas of the West Bank.
UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) was established in 1949 to provide assistance and protection to Palestine refugees.