Letter to FT: One State, 6 jan 2009

The FT
6 January 2009

Re: One State
Letter: Powerful case for one-state solution, Prof Ure, 6 jan 2009]
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3084c7c8-db91-11dd-be53-000077b07658.html

Sir,

Professor John Ure is convincing, that there is “a powerful case for [the] one-state solution,” as articulated by Edward Said. This was the one point where my contrarian self found its nature in response to the Gaza gamble leader of the day before; however that piece was so true to so many realities and needs, that I felt I could keep mum on this. I do feel, however, that politics eventually follows the logic of human life. This may seem overly hopeful, but I think it is ultimately practical. Humans are not so clearly divided as politics, or governing authorities, try to make them. For instance, during one of the periods of repeated house to house searches in Balata Refugee Camp in Nablus, a resident received daily phonecalls from her Jewish Israeli employer, checking on her and expressing grief over her government’s actions. Ties like this outlast political tangles. Another example: in better times, Jewish Israelis would visit a coworker’s family in Jenin Refugee Camp, and this coworker was a political leader with a militant group. Both hosts and guests see farther than their governments, and their governments may eventually reach the level of human cooperation of their people.

While the small everyday individual transactions may seem insignificant to the larger picture, I feel that these little dots will eventually redefine the picture itself.

The one-state idea needs time to take form in peoples’ imaginations, even as an impossibility, before it can be considered as a possible possibility. Thank you for giving it space as a response to the leader, which surely received many varied responses.

Also thank you for this lovely photo of Edward Said, a fitting tribute to him, and quite a contrast to the ‘no presidents whatsoever’ image on an earlier page!
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4dccc074-db91-11dd-be53-000077b07658.html

Annie Higgins
Chicago