Two Stars for Peace

Alison sends this satire: Two Stars for Peace - A Book by Martine Rothblatt.

What is Two Stars for Peace?

It is the name for a grassroots plan to solve the Middle East Crisis by merging Palestine and Israel into the U.S. as the 51st and 52nd states.

Why should Americans add Palestine and Israel as states?

American statehood for Israel and Palestine will solve America's biggest foreign relations problem, and also contribute to a reduction in terrorism. No country other than America has this ability to achieve a lasting peace in the Middle East. No other solution will work for long. The expansion will also infuse new economic and cultural dynamism into America because Israelis and Palestinians are amongst the most creative people in the world.

Why should Israel and Palestine give up sovereignty for U.S. statehood?

Joining the U.S. means Israel and Palestine share U.S. sovereignty. They do not give up sovereignty, but instead trade stand-alone sovereignty for shared sovereignty. Shared American sovereignty offers Israel and Palestine the benefits of peace, stability, economic growth and justice, none of which have been obtainable with stand-alone sovereignty. Also, as is evidenced in Europe, the way of the future is multi-state unions rather than stand-alone states.

It goes on from there. But it's not such a crazy idea, actually. This satire shows us all the reasons why we ought to hope.

Comments

[Jonathan Edelstein]

My half-serious suggestion has always been that both Israel and Palestine should join the EU. Given the freedom-of-residence clauses of the European Charter of Human Rights, this would solve both the refugee and settler problems very neatly - the Palestinian refugees could live and work in Israel and vote in Palestine, while the WB/Gaza settlers could do the converse. (This would, of course, be contingent upon both sides beating their swords into damned big plowshares.)