PROJECT: A solution for Israel-Palestine

You will be writing a formal persuasive essay about Israel and Palestine.  Your topic will be a solution for the conflict.  You will be arguing for either a one-state solution of a two-state solution.  

Your paper should consider the following:

If you choose one-state solution:

·         Will the Gaza Strip be included?  Or will it only be a merging of Israel and the West Bank?

·         If Gaza is not included, will they become a part of Egypt?  Or will they be an independent nation?

·         Will Palestinians have the same rights as Israelis?  Will they have freedom of movement?  Freedom to live wherever they want?  Ability to apply for any job they want?

·         Will Palestinian political parties (Fatah, Hamas) be allowed to run for seats in the Israeli Knesset (legislature)?

·         Will the walls surrounding and intersecting the West Bank be knocked down?

·         What will the new country be called?  Will it still be Israel?  Will it revert to Palestine?  Will it be something new that will be acceptable to both Israelis and Palestinians?

·         Others

If you choose a two-state solution:

·         Will Gaza and the West Bank become a single country?  Or will this just be a two-state solution separating Israel and the West Bank?

·         If Gaza is not joined to the West Bank, will they become independent (the three-state solution)?  Or will they become a part of Egypt?

·         Which map will be used?  The 1967 map?  The 2000 offer from Israel (only 95% of the West Bank being given to Palestinians)?

·         How will the issue of Jerusalem be handled?

·         How will the issue of Israeli settlements in the West Bank be handled?

·         Will the walls surrounding the West Bank be knocked down?

·         Will West Bank citizens be allowed to travel freely into Israel?  Or through Israel to get to Gaza?

·         Others

Your paper needs to explain why a one-state or two-state solution is better for all parties.  Why it is more realistic, why it is more likely to succeed, etc.  You will need to do research outside of class for this paper – we have not covered everything about this topic (if it’s even possible to do so). 

This paper should be at least 5 paragraphs, typed, double-spaced, 12 point font, in MLA format.  It may be longer than 5 paragraphs, depending on the depth with which you choose to examine this subject.  You are also required to cite 5 sources from outside of class on a Works Cited page (in MLA format).  

We will be having many deadlines throughout the course of 3^rd quarter related to this paper, but the final paper will be due on Thursday, April 4.