Is the Two-State Solution Still Viable? (John Donvan; Open to Debate podcast)

As the war between Israel and Hamas is ongoing, the nonpartisan debate series Open to Debate in partnership with the Council on Foreign Relations is taking a closer look at one proposed solution to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The two-state solution proposes a sovereign State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel and aims to address the territorial disputes, security concerns, and national aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians. However, many have questioned whether this plan is still possible, especially during the Israel-Gaza war happening now. Those who believe it’s still possible argue that it’s the most logical path toward achieving sustainable peace and fulfilling the national self-determination rights of both Israelis and Palestinians while respecting international laws and U.N. resolutions. Those who believe it is no longer possible argue that the ongoing violence, West Bank settlement expansions, lack of trust, and failure of previous negotiation attempts such as the Oslo Accords make having both states impractical.

With this critical background, we debate the question: Is the Two-State Solution Still Viable? This debate was pre-recorded as an exclusive live event on July 16, 2024, at 6 PM EST, at the Council on Foreign Relations, in New York City.
Interview: 

https://opentodebate.org/debate/is-the-two-state-solution-still-viable/

Israel announces largest West Bank land seizure since 1993 - The Washington Post

Friday's land order is particularly problematic for the prospect of a two-state solution, experts say. "If Israel confiscates land around Jerusalem, all the way to the Dead Sea, there will be no future for a Palestinian capital in East Jerusalem," said Hamza Zubiedat, a land rights activist for the Ramallah-based Ma'an Development Center. "This is where a Palestinian capital was supposed to be located, according to the American and European talks."…

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/03/22/israel-largest-west-bank-settlement-blinken-visit/

What are settlements, and why are they such a big deal?

Settlements are often described by observers of the conflict as creating new "facts on the ground." They change the situation by splitting Palestinian land and communities, while an increasing number of Israeli Jews put down roots in territory previously meant for Palestinians. So long as enough settlements are placed in the right places, a Palestinian state is geographically non-viable. For many settlers, this is the point: they want the West Bank fully incorporated as Israeli territory and are trying to make that happen. Any two-state solution will require demolishing a significant number of them…

https://www.vox.com/2018/11/20/18080052/israel-settlements-west-bank