Two-state solution:

The two-state solution, once hailed as the path to peace, has proven itself to be a hollow promise, built upon the fractured dreams of generations of Palestinians. It has served as a smokescreen for the continued expansion of Israeli settlements, the entrenchment of occupation, and the perpetuation of systemic discrimination against Palestinians. In essence, it has enshrined a reality where Palestinian statehood is nothing more than a distant mirage, forever out of reach amidst the ever-expanding borders of Israeli control.

Israeli politicians themselves have cast irrefutable doubt on the feasibility of a two-state solution, with absolutely heinous statements made across both left and right-wing government officials that’ve made it clear Israel has always rejected and in fact worked against a two state solution. All the heinous remarks they’ve said recently have been widely documented but these beliefs have predated even this decade. In 2009, Israel’s new foreign minister completely dismissed the resolution of a two state solution.

In contrast, a one-state solution offers a vision of a future where individuals coexist as equals, sharing a common destiny and forging a shared identity based on principles of justice, dignity, and mutual respect within Palestine. It recognizes the inherent rights of all individuals to live in freedom and security, free from discrimination and oppression.

To advocate for a one-state solution is to reject the notion that peace and justice can only be achieved through the partitioning of land that has been soaked in the blood and tears of generations of Palestinians. It is a recognition that true reconciliation can only be built on a foundation of equality, where every individual – regardless of ethnicity, religion, or background – enjoys the same rights and opportunities under the law.

Central to the call for a one-state solution is the right of return for all Palestinian refugees – a right enshrined in international law and denied for far too long. It is a recognition of the historical injustice inflicted upon millions of indigenous Palestinians who were forcibly expelled from their native homes before, during and after the Nakba, as well as a commitment to rectifying this injustice by granting them the opportunity to return to their homeland.

House 888 Resolution:

House Resolution 888 presents an incredibly biased, whitewashed and revisionist history of the state of Israel and its brutal occupation, 75+ year ethnic cleansing of Palestinians and current assault while also undermining the fight against antisemitism by declaring a range of legitimate, pro-justice political positions antisemitic.

The conflation of anti-Israeli sentiments with anti-Semitism in official American law represents a dangerous conflation of political critique with racial and religious prejudice. Such legislation is heinous and deplorable for both Palestinians and Jews alike for several reasons.

By equating anti-Israeli sentiments with anti-Semitism, such laws effectively erase the Palestinian narrative and deny their legitimate grievances. Palestinians have endured decades of displacement, discrimination, and violence at the hands of the Israeli state. By criminalizing criticism of Israel, these laws contribute to the dehumanization of Palestinians and perpetuate their marginalization on the global stage.

In fact, these laws serve to whitewash the history of Israel’s creation and ongoing occupation of Palestinian lands. The state of Israel was established through the expulsion and dispossession of indigenous Palestinians, a fact that is well-documented and verified by historical evidence. By censoring discussion of this history, such laws prevent a nuanced understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian assault and hinder efforts towards reconciliation and justice.

Not to mention, such a resolution undermines legitimate criticism of Israeli policies and actions by equating it with hatred towards Jewish people as a whole. This not only stifles freedom of speech and expression but also perpetuates the false notion that criticism of the Israeli government is inherently anti-Semitic. In reality, many Jews themselves oppose the actions of the Israeli state and support Palestinian rights.

Moreover, the perpetuation of the very harmful and dangerous narrative that being critical of the Israeli government is tantamount to denying the Holocaust or supporting genocidal ideologies is a false equivalence that not only distorts the truth but also diminishes the severity of actual anti-Semitic acts and beliefs, which should be unequivocally condemned.

By affirming Israel’s right to exist, despite the state having been founded on the ethnic cleansing and erasure of Palestinian identity, heritage, culture and statehood, this bill perpetuates the Zionist ideology that the destruction of Palestine is both acceptable and justified.