One Country: A Bold Proposal to End the Israeli-Palestinian Impasse

Best known for creating in the popular electronic intifada website www. Originally the basis for an academic presentation he delivered at St. One Country begins with an indictment of the antecedent processes that were supposed to guarantee Palestinian rights and statehood. Abunimah takes us through the progressive worsening of American mediation before, during and after the Oslo peace process.

He cites the steady erosion of respect for international law and condemns the fatally flawed Oslo agreement for its impractical features, including those that required Palestinians to stop all forms of violence while the occupying Israeli state could appropriate more Palestinian resources, demolish more Palestinian homes, confiscate more Palestinian land, and erect more illegal Jewish settlements than at any other time in history. Using a range of data, from statistics to personal narratives, Abunimah demonstrates how efforts to pursue a two-state solution have only added to Palestinian misery.

These efforts encouraged the further erosion of the remaining 22 percent of historic Palestine, a process legitimized by President George W. The Bush administration had eagerly adopted this prescription from right-wing Israeli politician Natan Sharansky. The administration has not simply failed to respect the Palestinian vote; it has actively worked to bring down the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority — channeling money and weapons to Fatah and demonstrating the charade that U. Hence the rationale behind the Gaza Disengagement, argues Abunimah: Israel intended to offload the 1.

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Abunimah's book may not be the key to a one state solution, as he readily admits, but it is surely a well founded guide to help Palestinians and Israelis begin to resolve the conflict. Jun 11, tamar rated it it was ok Recommends it for: Jun 06, Elizabeth rated it liked it Shelves: The problem is that Israel cannot be both a democracy and Jewish.

The other problem is that it's hard to see, with the growth of settlements and building of the separation wall, how Palestine will ever have enough land, it's people sufficient freedom of movement, it's democratically elected leaders sufficient sovereignty, to be a genuine viable state. So it does seem somehow all these people - Jewish Israelis, Arab Israelis, and Palestinians will have to live in one state.

That's what Ali Abunimah argues and argues well here. Sep 27, Louis Guevara rated it liked it. My only real critique of this book is it should of been longer and extended the idea of one nation. It is definetly an objective book and at no time did I feel it was being subjectice. If anything the author was trying his best to stray away from the usual contexts these books bring when it comes to the Palestinian - Israeli Conflict.

Jul 31, Paul rated it it was amazing Shelves: This book successfully convinced me the only way forward is one country that embraces all ethnicities. Quote from the book: There is no credible "peace process" to provide hope that the misery on the ground is merely a transitory phase on the way to deliverance, and the one big idea that is suppos This book successfully convinced me the only way forward is one country that embraces all ethnicities.

There is no credible "peace process" to provide hope that the misery on the ground is merely a transitory phase on the way to deliverance, and the one big idea that is supposed to save us—the Palestinian state—lies in tatters. There is a need for urgent action on two fronts: One is in the realm of dialogue, imagination, and construction of an inclusive vision. At the same time, there is a pressing need for resistance to the outcome Israel is trying to impose on the Palestinians, one that can only lead to greater bloodshed and suffering on all sides.

These appear to be contradictory mandates, but they must go hand in hand. Nov 24, Ashley rated it it was amazing. Abunimah provides a radical, provocative and ultimately, compassionate path forward to peace in "Israel-Palestine" through his vision for One State.

His vision for justice for Palestinians is rooted in the human rights principles of the equality and dignity of all people and a belief in humans' fundamental ability to co-exist in pluralistic societies when given equal rights. I am left motivated to continue to learn about the issue and hopefully, be a part of the solution. Aug 02, Iano rated it really liked it Shelves: So obvious, simple and clear.

Abunimah explores this very clearly and uses many South African experiences to explore how it could work. Refreshing to hear something hopeful about this horror. Let's hope that there are brave and visionary Palestinians and Israelis outside of Brilliant. Let's hope that there are brave and visionary Palestinians and Israelis outside of the current political machines that take this idea and build a grass roots movement from it. Mar 25, Reb rated it it was amazing Shelves: Abunimah doesn't get bogged down as I so often do in discussions of collective psychology or history or overmuch geopolitical analysis--straight to the point that partition isn't going to work because the Jewish and Arab populations are so intermixed at this point.

Also a beautiful argument for democratic secularism in all its forms. Jul 30, Lee rated it it was amazing. This book was exactly what I wanted in a book about Palestine.

Abunimah intertwined relevant moments from his own family's history with a sharp, hopeful, and most importantly easy to read account of Zionism and a proposal for a one state solution. Abunimah made a compelling and detailed arguement for the ways in which the idea of a two state solution has maintained Israelis and Palestinians in a state of violent limbo year after year. I loved that he was compassionate towards both sides and talk This book was exactly what I wanted in a book about Palestine. I loved that he was compassionate towards both sides and talked about feelings and trauma and fear without apologizing for Israel's oppresive project.

I learned A LOT! Jan 04, Yazeed rated it it was amazing. This is a very well-written book. Ali Abunimah writes very eloquently for why a one-state solution is the only viable solution to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He believes the two-state solution only offers a dwindling supply of false hope, while it does not lead to any real solution. For his one-state proposal, Ali outlines eight principles rooted in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He then shows that this kind of solution is not unprecedented, especially in post-apartheid Sou This is a very well-written book.

He then shows that this kind of solution is not unprecedented, especially in post-apartheid South Africa. Feb 26, Sarah rated it it was amazing Shelves: I also learned a lot about South Africa and how the situation there is similar or different to the Zionist worldview, history, political ambition, settlement NOT just apartheid, but from the very beginning. It was super interesting. I definitely recommend this book. Aug 06, Safiya rated it it was amazing. Aug 17, Nate Glenn added it. THE moral, ethical, and practical solution to the israeli-palestinian conflict.

Rooted in universal human rights, democratic values, and justice. Abunimah's vision is clear and far reaching, his message profoundly simple and uncompromising, he is the modern voice of palestine, struggling for the freedom and human rights so long denied, voicing the dignity and resolve of a people long slandered and dehumanized but never defeated. Nov 13, David rated it it was amazing.

Abunimah is a clear and young voice of compassion and reconciliation in a world of elderly and infirm voices who espouse a tortured logic. If you're not, it goes double that you should read this book. Dec 19, Mohammed Abujayyab rated it it was amazing. Fantastic and amazing proposal that stays true to our basic human values as a basis for arguments. It might be more of an activist point of view than one that can be realistically carried on and implemented, but it's great to see that the disturbing reality of the situation doesn't deter some from reaching out to what is right and be perfectionists in seeing the future.

It caters to the world community more than it does to Palestinians or Israelis, which might be its main weakness.

Aug 17, Tinea rated it liked it Recommended to Tinea by: Oberlin Students for a Free Palestine. It's appealing because Abunimah focuses on human rights, democratic principles, and minority political and cultural rights. He argues for a one-state solution based on reconciliation like in South Africa , instead of ethnically-based land claims that inevitably make two-state partition agreements impossible.

Sometimes I wonder how my position as an outsider influences my agreement with compromises like this. Open position for a leader with vision in the Middle-East A healthy view and prescription how to cure the malady between Jews and Palestinians in the Middle-East. The author's optimism radiates with hope that one day a brave leader will arise, one with the vision like Nelson Mandela's.

Jan 21, Jillian rated it it was amazing. Ali Abunimah articulates every reason a one-state solution cannot work, then effectively counters every one. Whether you're well-read on the conflict, or this is your first stop, this book is absolutely worth a read or in my case, two reads!

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Jul 28, Maryc rated it really liked it Shelves: An eye opener if you've been relying on mainstream US news sources. An honest, refreshingly optimistic look at an overwhelmingly difficult situaion. I would love to hear this author speak! Feb 19, Mk rated it it was amazing Shelves: This book is full of hope, solid arguments, and empathy. If you ever ponder the question "what do I want to see happen? Sep 08, Ianluna rated it it was amazing.

Jun 22, Mendal rated it it was amazing. The introduction to this book was incredible and I found it almost unnecessary to read the rest. Sep 27, Tess rated it really liked it Shelves: Jul 06, Paul Burrows rated it really liked it Shelves: Aug 17, Brita Rose rated it it was amazing. The most compelling argument I've read on a one state solution to the conflict. There are no discussion topics on this book yet.

Ali Abunimah is co-founder of the award-winning online publication The Electronic Intifada, established in He is author of the book One Country: A Bold Proposal to End the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, which argues for a single, democratic and decolonized state in historic Palestine. Based in Chicago, he has written hundreds of articles on the question of Palestine, many of which have been p Ali Abunimah is co-founder of the award-winning online publication The Electronic Intifada, established in He is currently working on a new book.

Books by Ali Abunimah. Trivia About One Country: No trivia or quizzes yet. Quotes from One Country: Neither can it require Israeli Jews to view their own presence in Palestine as illegitimate or to change their belief in their right to live there because of ancient historical and spiritual ties.