Mark O'Doherty

Let there be Peace - Ascension to Ivisimara Mark O'Doherty

It becomes increasingly important that peace and harmony are finally manifested in Israel-Palestine; and that the Gaza blockade is finally lifted. So it is very important that the future governance of the Bennett-Lapid government is fair and just; and that policies implemented are free from systemic injustices, so that equal rights and legal equality can be manifested in the land. Jerusalem's status is one of the thorniest issues of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with the international community insisting it must be negotiated by the two sides. Israel views the whole city as its capital while the Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of their own state - both sides being locked in stalemate, and a two-state solution having no prospect of success. So the sooner everybody realizes that a bi-national state is the better option, the better for everybody - with citizenship and equal rights in the combined entity for all inhabitants of all territories, without regard to ethnicity or religion. This would combine Israel and the Palestinian territories into a single state with one government, so that business and commerce between all ethnic groups can take place freely and unhindered; the current barriers and Israeli checkpoints being a huge obstacle to this. Hence in the spirit of freedom of movement - for both Palestinian and Israeli people - a one-state solution would be the better option. This would also be in line with former President Reuven Rivlin's policy of a one-state solution, who argues for a unified country that would embrace all people and give the Palestinians of the West Bank and Gaza full citizenship - so that peace, prosperity and democracy can be manifested in the land. Hence there is now a great window of opportunity for a bi-national state - which the Bennett-Lapid government ought to utilize - so that Israel can remain a respected member in the International Community, and that Israel if finally freed from systemic injustices. Also, it is imperative that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is protected in Israel-Palestine, and that Israeli officials stop committing apartheid - so that equal rights and legal equality can be manifested in Israel-Palestine. To manifest peace and democracy in the land, it is imperative that the Gaza blockade is finally lifted and that all parties concerned start working towards a just and fair Middle East peace plan - so that goodness and decency can prevail in the land.