Should Canada rethink its commitment to a 2 state solution to the Israel/Palestine conflict?

1. Should Canada rethink its commitment to a 2 state solution
to the Israel/Palestine conflict?
Presentation to Middle East Study Group
April 14, 2016
Peter Larson, Ph.D.
Chair
Canada Talks Israel Palestine
www.canadatalksisraelpalestine.ca

2. The Clinton parameters
• Two independent states
• Safe and secure borders based on ‘67
lines
• 3% land swaps
• Israel to maintain military bases in
Palestine
• Palestinian state to be “non militarized”
• East Jerusalem to be Capital of Palestine
• Refugees to have “right” to return to
Palestine and “may” return elsewhere
with host country permission
- Dec. 23, 2000
Rabin, Clinton, Arafat, Sept 1983

4. Palestinian refugees
450,000 Lebanon
520,000 Syria
2,097,000 Jordan
762,000 West Bank
1,258,000 Gaza
5,150,000 TOTAL
Source: http://www.unrwa.org/where-we-work

5. Palestinian refugees
Left: women at women’s shelter in Baqa’a Camp,
Jordan, look at pics of my grand daughter
Below left: kids huddle in the street in Gaza
Below: woman shucks vegetables for evening meal in
Lebanese camp

6. The forgotten Palestinians
(Arab citizens of Israel)

7. Socio-economic status by religion inside Israel
Jewish Israelis vs. Arab Israelis
Some examples:
Income (average income $/year)
Jewish $31K Arab $21K
Poverty rate (families after transfers)
Jewish 12.3% Arab 44.9%
Education (Qualification for matriculation certificate)
Jewish 75.9% Arab 30.8%
Unemployment (Unemployment rate)
Jewish 6.9% Arab = 10.9%
Civil service employment
Jewish 94% Arab = 6%
All figures from Dirasat (Arab Centre for Law and Policy), ADALAH, and Central
Bureau of Statistics, Israel

8. Where do Israeli Jews and Palestinians live today?
Israeli Jews (6.1 million)
• 5.5 million inside Israel
• 0.6 million in West Bank
Palestinians (9.1 million)
• 4.6 live in the West Bank or Gaza
• 5 mm refugees (Lebanon, Jordan and Syria,
but also WB and Gaza)
• 1.7 million live inside Israel
Topographical map of the Israel/Palestine region

9. Thank you!!
Peter Larson, Chair, Canada Talks Israel Palestine
www.canadatalksisraelpalestine.ca