Opinion Levantine lemonade

But you know what they say to do with lemons? Make lemonade.

The Obama team is in a fix. The Palestinian Authority,having lost faith in both Israel and the US,is pushing for the United Nations to recognise an independent Palestinian state,within the 1967 lines in the West Bank and Gaza. Once that is in hand,the Palestinian Authority could then start a global push to pressure Israel into withdrawing its settlers and security forces,or face sanctions and delegitimisation. Israel is obviously opposed to this move.

As an alternative,the US is trying to get the parties to resume peace talks on a comprehensive agreement based on terms laid out by the president in mid-May — two states for two peoples,with the 1967 lines as the starting point,and then whatever land swaps Israelis and Palestinians mutually agree to beyond that. But if the parties won’t accept this — and for now they are resisting — then we’re headed for a real train wreck at the UN in September.

How about a different approach?

If the Palestinians want to take this whole problem back to where it started — the UN — I say let’s do it. But let’s think much bigger and with more imagination.

On Nov. 29,1947,the UN passed General Assembly Resolution 181,partitioning Palestine into two homes for two peoples — described as “Independent Arab and Jewish States.” So why don’t we just update Resolution 181 and take it through the more prestigious Security Council? “This body reaffirms that the area of historic Palestine should be divided into two homes for two peoples — a Palestinian Arab state and a Jewish state. The dividing line should be based on the 1967 borders — with mutually agreed border adjustments and security arrangements for both sides. This body recognises the Palestinian state as a member of the General Assembly and urges both sides to enter into negotiations to resolve all the other outstanding issues.” Very simple.

Each side would get something vital provided it gives the other what it wants. The Palestinians would gain recognition of statehood and UN membership,within provisional boundaries,with Israel and America voting in favor. And the Israelis would get formal UN recognition as a Jewish state — with the Palestinians and Arabs voting in favor.

Moreover,the Palestinians would get negotiations based on the 1967 borders and Israel would get a UN-US assurance that the final border would be shaped in negotiations between the parties,with land swaps,so theoretically the 5 percent of the West Bank where 80 percent of the settlers live could be traded for parts of pre-1967 Israel.

Both sides would have the framework for resuming negotiations they can live with. Meanwhile,the US,rather than being isolated in a corner with Israel,can get credit for restarting talks — without remaining stuck on the settlements issue.