New Delhi, July 16, 2025:
The phrase “two-state solution” continues to echo through diplomatic halls, United Nations conferences, and media sound bites as if it still holds meaningful promise. Leaders around the world still cling to it like a life raft in a sinking sea of political instability in the Middle East. But what exists today on the ground between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea is not the hopeful vision of two peaceful states living side by side. Instead, it is a dual-state reality controlled entirely by Israel.

From UN Resolution to One Reality

The origin of the two-state idea can be traced back to United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181, known widely as the 1947 Partition Plan. This resolution called for the division of historic Palestine into two separate entities — one Jewish and one Arab (Palestinian). The Jewish state came into existence swiftly in May 1948, and the international community was quick to recognise it. The Palestinian state, however, remains non-existent, despite being enshrined in international law.

Instead, what has emerged over the decades is a scenario where Israel exercises control not only over its declared territory but also over the territories intended for Palestinians — the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza (to varying degrees).

One Recognised, One Occupied

The first Israeli state — the internationally recognised one — was born through a war that saw the expulsion of over 700,000 Palestinians from their homes. Often referred to as the Nakba (or catastrophe), this event laid the foundation for Israel’s sovereignty over 78% of historical Palestine.

The second state, ironically, is not Palestinian. It is another Israeli state — the one formed by military occupation, separation walls, settlements, checkpoints, and apartheid-like policies.

This “state” includes East Jerusalem and the West Bank, which are under permanent Israeli control, though they are supposed to be part of the future Palestinian state. In Gaza, though Israel disengaged from direct settlements in 2005, it still controls airspace, maritime borders, and entry/exit points, effectively turning it into an open-air prison.

The Collapse of the Peace Process

From the Oslo Accords in the 1990s to the numerous summits, conferences, and UN resolutions that followed, every attempt at achieving a fair two-state solution has ultimately failed. One by one, critical trust-building phrases — like ‘land for peace’, ‘final status issues’, and ‘mutual recognition’ — have disappeared from diplomatic vocabulary.

All that remains is an empty shell: “the two-state solution.” Even that is now being repeated more out of habit than conviction.

The international community, except for Israel and the United States, still clings to this idea, as though the solution lies in simply repeating it louder and more often.

A Spoiled Adolescent with Nuclear Weapons

Perhaps the most troubling part of this geopolitical theatre is how Israel continues to behave as a state above international law, largely indulged by the United States.

From continued illegal settlements in the West Bank to violations of human rights in Gaza, Israel is rarely held accountable. International criticism is either muted or vetoed — most often in the UN Security Council, where the U.S. shields Israel with diplomatic immunity.

This behaviour has led to comparisons of Israel with a “spoiled, reckless adolescent” — armed not with slingshots but with one of the world’s most advanced militaries and a covert nuclear arsenal.

A Two-State Reality — Both for Israel

When we look at the map today, we don’t see a shared land. We see a nation with two faces: one democratic for Jewish Israelis, the other militarised for Palestinians.

Israel’s legal structure, land policy, and security measures have essentially created two types of people under its control — those with full rights and those living under occupation, without a voice, a vote, or sovereignty.

There’s a term for this in modern political analysis: apartheid. And many international human rights organisations — including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International — have used that word to describe Israel’s control over the Palestinians.

Where Is Palestine?

The Palestinian state envisioned by Resolution 181 has been systematically dismantled in practice. What remains are disconnected enclaves, each controlled by Israeli authorities:

• The West Bank is carved up by checkpoints, walls, and Jewish settlements, many of which are illegal under international law.

• East Jerusalem, which Palestinians claim as their capital, is increasingly being annexed and Judaized through demolition of homes and revocation of residency.

• Gaza, isolated and economically strangled, faces blockades and bombardments, making any notion of sovereignty laughable.

Double Standards in Global Politics

While Russia was quickly condemned for annexing parts of Ukraine, Israel continues to build settlements and take over Palestinian land with minimal global backlash.

Even countries that support Ukraine’s territorial integrity turn a blind eye to the occupation of Palestine. The double standards are glaring and damage the credibility of international law itself.

This continued bias makes Palestinians feel that the world does not see them as equals, and that their suffering is not worth the same moral concern as that of others.

The Role of the United States

The United States remains Israel’s most powerful ally, providing billions in military aid annually and consistently blocking or watering down any UN resolution critical of Israel.

Under multiple administrations — Republican and Democrat alike — the U.S. has maintained an unwavering commitment to Israel’s security, often at the cost of Palestinian rights.

Even today, American policy does little to challenge the status quo. Instead of pushing for equal rights and justice, the U.S. continues to act as Israel’s diplomatic shield.

Where Does This Leave Us?

In truth, the two-state solution is dead — not because Palestinians rejected it, but because Israel has made it impossible.

Through settlement expansion, military occupation, and institutional discrimination, Israel has created a one-state reality with two systems.

This is not peace. It is prolonged injustice masked as diplomacy.

Unless the international community — especially Western powers — begin treating Israel like any other country bound by international norms, the situation will not change.

Conclusion: A Call for Accountability

The time has come for the world to stop pretending that peace is still just a matter of more negotiations. Instead, it must recognise the truth of the situation: there is no two-state solution on the horizon unless Israel is held accountable.

The two-state reality we see today is not Israeli and Palestinian — it is two Israels, one democratic, the other authoritarian.

To continue indulging this status quo is to deny the basic human dignity and national rights of an entire people.

If peace is truly the goal, then justice and equality must come first — not just for Israelis, but for Palestinians who have waited for their state for over 75 years.

The Upcoming IPOs in this week and coming weeks are Savy Infra, Monika Alcobev, NSDL.

The Current active IPO are Anthem Biosciences, Spunweb Nonwoven.

Start your Stock Market Journey and Apply in IPO by Opening Free Demat Account in Choice Broking FinX.

Join our Trading with CA Abhay Telegram Channel for regular Stock Market Trading and Investment Calls by CA Abhay Varn - SEBI Registered Research Analyst.