Outline of 11-Point Justice Based Peace Plan for Palestine and Israel

The United Nations supported by all those who stand for peace with justice should play a very active and strong role in achieving a solution for Palestine crisis which is based on justice and peace. Here the outline of a possible solution is presented for wider discussion and for contributing to this process of peace and justice.

1. There should be immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and stopping of all violence in West Bank.

2. Along with this all Israeli hostages should be released immediately and about 90% of all Palestinian prisoners should be immediately released while the cases of those accused of any extreme acts of violence can be reviewed later.

3. The United Nations should set up an authority in which people of Gaza are also represented which will receive funds from all over the world to start a very big community-based rehabilitation effort in Gaza. Till their destroyed or damaged houses are reconstructed or repaired, people can stay in tents close to their houses while reconstruction takes place, or else any other suitable arrangement for temporary stay with basic facilities can be made.

4. The United Nations should firmly recognize both Israel and Palestine as its members and call upon all member countries to recognize both Palestine and Israel as sovereign countries.

5. Israel and Palestine should recognize each other as sovereign countries and express their clear commitment to live in peaceful coexistence with each other. The country which refuses to do so would lose its UN membership.

6. All Israeli settlers in West Bank should leave and no new ones should be allowed in either West Bank or Gaza.

7. The boundaries of the two sovereign countries should be clearly demarcated with the help of the United Nations. A corridor should be provided to link Gaza and West Bank with proper fencing, not too wide but wide enough to allow easy transport between the two Palestinian territories.

8. The corridor and the area of very sacred places of various religions should have permanent presence of UN peace keeping force.

9. A UN authority will administer Palestine for about a year and then elections will be held together for the entire Palestine as one sovereign country. However only those political parties who give a guarantee of adhering to peaceful methods will be allowed to contest. Those who deny Israel’s right to exist or propagate attacks on Israel will not be allowed to contest.

10. Israel will have fresh elections with the new legal provision that all contesting parties will have to recognize Palestine as a sovereign country and anyone propagating attacks on Palestinians will not be allowed to contest.

11. The United Nations and other peace organizations will take up a number of programs on continuing basis to reduce hostile feelings and increase goodwill among the people of two countries and to strengthen the forces of peace in both countries.

Bharat Dogra is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Protecting Earth for Children, Planet in Peril, Man over Machine and A Day in 2071.