The two-state solution refers to the long-standing diplomatic framework envisioning two sovereign states — Israel and Palestine — living side by side in peace and security. The Palestinian state is typically envisaged in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital, broadly along the armistice lines established after the 1948 Arab–Israeli War (the so-called "Green Line" or pre-1967 borders), subject to mutually agreed land swaps.
The concept traces back to the UN General Assembly's Partition Plan (Resolution 181, 1947), which proposed separate Jewish and Arab states in Mandatory Palestine. It was revived through UN Security Council Resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), which called for withdrawal from territories occupied in the Six-Day War in exchange for peace. The framework became the explicit basis of negotiations under the Oslo Accords (1993 and 1995) between the PLO and Israel, which established the Palestinian Authority as an interim self-governing body.
Subsequent negotiation rounds — including Camp David (2000), the Taba talks (2001), the Annapolis Conference (2007), and Kerry-led talks (2013–2014) — all attempted but failed to finalize a permanent-status agreement. Core unresolved issues include:
- Borders and the status of Israeli settlements in the West Bank
- Jerusalem, claimed as a capital by both sides
- Palestinian refugees and the right of return
- Security arrangements and demilitarization
- Water rights and resource sharing
The Arab Peace Initiative (2002), sponsored by Saudi Arabia and adopted by the Arab League, offered normalization with Israel in exchange for a Palestinian state on 1967 lines. The framework retains formal endorsement from the UN, EU, Arab League, and successive US administrations. However, expansion of Israeli settlements, internal Palestinian division between Fatah and Hamas, and renewed violence — particularly following the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack and the ensuing Gaza war — have led many analysts to question whether the framework remains viable in practice.
Example
In September 2023, US President Joe Biden told the UN General Assembly that a two-state solution remained the only path to lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
Frequently asked questions
It is endorsed by the United Nations, the European Union, the Arab League, and successive US administrations, as well as by the Palestinian Authority. Israeli government positions have varied.
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