Iranian Foreign Minister Abdollahian expressed Iran's distrust of the two-state solution at a forum on the Palestinian-Israeli issue. He noted that there is a common denominator between Israel and Iran, which is that neither believes in this solution. Abdollahian believes that the settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli issue should be decided by the Palestinian people themselves, and consensus should be reached through a referendum. He also mentioned that only the descendants of those who had settled in Palestine before 1948 were eligible to vote. This statement has sparked extensive discussion and reflection.
However, the commonalities between Iran and Israel are not limited to not believing in the "two-state solution". In fact, there are similarities between the two countries in many ways. First of all, historically, both Iran and Israel have experienced the suffering of being invaded and occupied by other countries. Iran was once ruled by Greek, Assyrian, Persian, and Arab states, while Israel was ruled by empires such as Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. This historical context has strengthened the desire of Iran and Israel to defend their interests and national independence.
Secondly, both Iran and Israel are countries with a long history of civilization, with a rich cultural heritage and a deep cultural heritage. As one of the cradles of Persian culture, Iran is home to numerous ancient buildings and cultural sites. Israel, on the other hand, is the center of Jewish culture, which has historically attracted Jewish immigrants from all over the world, forming a unique Jewish culture. The cultural heritage of Iran and Israel is a source of pride for both countries and an important factor in their respect and recognition on the international stage.
In addition, both Iran and Israel face geopolitical rivalries and conflicts with their neighbors. Iran is located in the Middle East and borders Iraq, Afghanistan, Turkey, and other countries, so it plays an important role in the geopolitics of the region. Israel, on the other hand, is a neighbor of the Arab states, with long-standing territorial disputes and security threats with countries such as Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt. These geopolitical rivalries and conflicts have given both Iran and Israel a strong sense of security and national sovereignty.
To sum up, Iran and Israel not only have common ground in not believing in the "two-state solution", but also have similarities in terms of historical background, cultural heritage, and geopolitics. These commonalities make Iran and Israel two complex and volatile countries in the Middle East. It is true that there are differences in their attitudes and positions on the Palestinian-Israeli issue, but understanding what they have in common is also a deeper understanding of the predicament and challenges of the two countries.
The two-state solution "was first proposed by the British, when the region was ruled by the British, with Arabs and Jews living side by side, often in conflict. In 1937, in order to resolve the dispute between the two sides and achieve peaceful coexistence, Britain proposed a "two-state solution" of establishing a Jewish state and a Palestinian state in the region. However, since the Arabs considered it their homeland and the Jews were "outsiders", they refused to accept the offer. Subsequently, the United Kingdom referred the issue to the United Nations.
The proposal proposed by the United Nations was largely similar to that proposed by the United Kingdom, which Israel accepted but which the Palestinians persistently opposed. In May 1948, Israel was established while the Palestinians continued to fight, leading to the outbreak of the first Middle East war. In the following Middle East wars, Israel acquired more land and controlled territory far beyond the scope of the "Palestinian-Israeli partition" plan proposed by the United Nations.
After the end of the Third Middle East War in 1967, Israel effectively took control of more territory, occupying the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Realizing that they could not regain their land by force, the Palestinian and pro-Palestinian Arab states began to accept the two-state solution. However, the boundaries delineated by the current two-state solution have changed, and Israel actually controls far more territory than originally planned.
In order to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the international community has actively engaged in its good offices and has put forward the current version of the "two-state solution". Under the programme, a Palestinian State was established on the basis of the borders established at the end of the Third Middle East War in 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital. At present, most countries, including China, support this plan and call for its implementation as soon as possible. The support for this option shows that it is reasonable and feasible.
However, there are still great difficulties and challenges in the implementation of this programme. For Israel, some hardliners believe that they have won the war in the Middle East and should annex all of Palestine without the need for another independent state on this land. As far as the Palestinians are concerned, they believe that they can only get one-fifth of the land they originally wanted after establishing a state under the current plan, which is tantamount to "losing their rights and humiliating the country" and is unacceptable.
Therefore, while the two-state solution is supportive and legitimate, its implementation still faces many challenges. The key to resolving the Palestinian-Israeli issue lies in continuing to uphold and promote the two-state solution and actively removing obstacles in its implementation. Only in this way will it be possible to realize this formula and become the way out of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.