🟠 News Club - Searching for a (2-state) solution

This week, the United Nations is hosting a summit to debate the merits of a 2-state solution to the war in Gaza - where Israel and Palestine would both be recognised as independent nations. So we thought it was a good time to dig in to exactly what it is, and why it’s historically been such a tricky prospect…

Searching for a (2-state) solution…

Why are we talking about what a lasting peace between Israel and Palestinians as the war in Gaza rages?

It might seem paradoxical. Last week, the US walked away from Gaza negotiations entirely, with Trump's envoy accusing Hamas of "lacking good faith." The humanitarian crisis has reached what UN officials call "a nightmare of historic proportions." And yet, current circumstances in Gaza are driving renewed urgency around the 2-state solution.

The 2-state solution is what it says on the tin: 2 independent nations - Israel and a new state of Palestine - living side-by-side in peace. For decades, world leaders have agreed that it's the only way forward, but local support is waning. One recent poll showed support among Palestinians has dropped to 25% – down from nearly 60% a decade ago - and the majority of Israelis are similarly unsupportive.. 

So what would it actually take? And why is it so elusive? To this week’s Club Picks…

1. Start with the basics... The ABC's Ben Knight has produced an excellent explainer on what the one-state and 2-state solutions actually mean, and why they've been so difficult to achieve. From the 1937 Peel Commission through to the Oslo Accords and beyond, it's a comprehensive guide to nearly a century of attempts at peace. The key takeaway? Every single plan has foundered on the same issues: borders, security, refugees, and Jerusalem.

2. The international response... Last week's joint statement from 32 foreign ministers – including Australia's Penny Wong – offers a window into current diplomatic thinking. It's signed by countries across Europe, North America, and the Pacific, representing a significant diplomatic push. What's notable is both the breadth of support and the frank criticism of Israeli policies.

3. Today's UN moment... A United Nations summit co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France convenes today to debate the two-state solution. It's a familiar ritual – but one that takes on new urgency given the current crisis. Watch for whether any new diplomatic initiatives emerge, or whether it remains largely symbolic..

4. The last time it almost worked... In 2000, President Bill Clinton came tantalisingly close to brokering a 2-state deal at Camp David. Last year, Dennis Ross, America's lead negotiator at those talks, spoke to the ABC about what it was like to be in the room - his insights speak to why even the most promising negotiations can collapse.

Long story short, the idea of a 2-state solution has survived because, as multiple studies have shown, it remains the least bad option. But survival isn't the same as success, and the question is whether a decades-old aspiration can ever be turned into reality.

Whatever the answer, consider yourself prepped for the news on this topic this week.

The power of hope

Rural Aid does incredible work supporting Aussie farmers hit by drought. In the last decade, it's distributed $125 million worth of assistance via 160,000 bales of hay and 13,000 counselling sessions. But CEO John Warlters says it’s also about hope: “And there's no 4-letter word that's more powerful than that one.” Woolworths is a longtime supporter of Rural Aid - a relationship that’s the subject of a new podcast episode called From Grassroots here.