The Andorra Plan: Another road toward a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

The Andorra Plan:  Another road toward a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

In the Judgment of Solomon, then King of Israel was asked to judge which of the woman who claimed to be the mother of a child was its true mother.  Solomon declared that there is only one fair solution “the live child must be split in two, each woman receiving half of the child.  But the true mother, stated. "Please, My Lord, give her the live child—do not kill him!" In turn the other female exclaimed, "It shall be neither mine nor yours—divide it!"  

The child had only one true mother, the mother that loved the child to such a degree that she was willing to give the child away to another mother so that the child would not be cut in half.  Jerusalem, the city that lies at the heart of the passions of both sides national consciousness, and thus at the core of the current deadlock in the peace process, is the child that negotiators and the international community are demanding to be split between two mothers; both of whom claim sole ownership. 

Here lies the unbridgeable dilemma.  The international community’s diplomacy during the past 30 years has predicated upon a two state solution, with Jerusalem eventually being Split between the two states.  After 30 years both side have been unwilling to make the ultimate decision that will solve the conflict.

However, there is another way in which Solomon could have resolved child dilemma; joint custody over the child.  The mother would agree with it since the ulterior choice was the loss of the child (by death through cutting in halve or complete custodial loss to the other mother.  Israeli and Palestinian negotiators can also benefit by the Joint Custody over Jerusalem.  The plan to achieve this is to create a third entity one that has sovereignty over Jerusalem; sovereignty that is shared both parties.      

 I refer to it as “the Andorra plan”.  The framework of the sovereignty for this small principality and its   relationship with its neighbor, France and Spain, can serve as a new roadmap towards a resolution of the Jerusalem issue.    Andorra is a small nation state perched high up in the Pyrenees range that form the boundary between Spain and France.  Andorra is co-principality that has dual sovereigns.  The president of France (whoever is the president at that time) and the Bishop of Urgell (Catalonia, Spain) act as the dual princes of Andorra.  The country has two post office and two postage stamps, one from France and the other from Spain.  Yet it also retains some aspect of independence, having it own executive and legislative framework.    

A way forward in the peace process is to create a third entity that possesses two seemingly contradictory elements.  Jerusalem will be eternally linked  to  Israel in that its sovereign will be the head of Israel;  It will also be part of Palestine in that the head of state of Palestine is also the sovereign of Jerusalem.   Separating Jerusalem from the two warring parties has been attempted before.  The United Nations called for Jerusalem to be an “an international city”; an entity which not be a part of either country. 

But the Andorra plan is different from the previously attempted approach in one significant way.  Under this regime, the City would remain linked to both countries; while maintaining its geographic integrity as a united city that is the corner stone of three of the world great religions. 

The geographic dimensions of this third entity can be negotiated and discussed based.  It can encompass on the inner walled city while the eastern half as part of Palestine and West Jerusalem remaining within Israel.  Or, the third entity can encompass only the Temple mount and the structures that stand on the property. 

The specifics of the plan can be discussed by both parties but the cornerstone of the framework would be the creation of a third entity, comprising of the Inner Walled City.  This nation would have a dual sovereign in perpetuity, each tying the nation through its head of state to two parties.

Administration of the City itself can be negotiated; below is but one attempt to imagine what it may encompass.  The executive of the nation comprises of seven members, one prime minister post and six cabinet post.  The post of president is rotated every six months between the current prime minster and the other six members of the cabinet.  Three of its members are chosen by Israel and three are chosen by Palestine.  A seventh and final post is chosen via direct election by the citizens of the city.  These posts are for a period of five years; and come up for re-appointment every two years.  Thus, every two years a Palestinian post and an Israeli post will be required to be replaced by a new member.  This seven member executive will be responsible to the people to Jerusalem and be given general policing powers.