I am happy to cooperate with any association that seeks to promote the concept of one democratic secular state in historic Palestine, with complete separation of religion and politics, free of ethnic or religious affiliation of its citizens. That country has room for Jews and non-Jews, including the descendants of Palestinian refugees who were expelled or fled in 1948.

Ofra Yeshua-Lyth

I believe the way forward is one state, and Israeli Jews must let go of their misconceptions and understand that opening the borders will not only bring poetic justice and decolonization, it will actually create a democratic country that is free of any religious characterization, all the way from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.

Danielle Alma Ravitzki

What we do

The One State Foundation works to increase and broaden debate among Palestinians and Israelis on a one state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Our aim is to broaden support for such a solution in both communities, ultimately creating the necessary level of support for such a solution to materialize. We do this based on our sincere conviction that such a solution, based on principles of equality, justice and human rights would address the root causes of conflict, and genuinely resolve the current crisis instead of offering another model to ‘manage’ it.

We reach out to Palestinians and Israelis through our online activities and by meeting and engaging with people personally. We encourage and facilitate Palestinians and Israelis in expressing their support in a direct and personal manner by adding their voice and portrait to our growing online gallery of supporters. We look forward to working in partnership with others. We intend to collect and present data and information on the development of support for a one state solution among Palestinians and Israelis. In addition, we will work on outreach within the international community to strengthen its awareness and support of the one state concept.

Why we do what we do

After over 20 years of a failed “peace process”, it is high time to recognize and come to terms with the one state reality that has been in place for decades. This is a one state reality in which some have rights while others are denied rights, all based on ethnic or religious differentiation. A transformation of this reality is urgently needed, to enable each and every person living under the sovereignty of the same regime to live in full equality. This will be achieved if people are awarded the exact same constitutional rights and opportunities, regardless of ethnicity or religion. We hold the firm conviction that such a transformation serves both communities, who each have much to gain from ending the current reality of occupation, oppression, inequality, apartheid and resistance.

In order for a one state model to materialize and work, it is of additional importance for recognition and repair of past and present injustice and wrongdoings, including the acknowledgment of the Palestinian Nakba to take place. UN resolution 194 on the right of return or reparation for Palestinian refugees and their descendants provides a firm basis for a first step, but recognition and repair go beyond that, since injustice and dispossession after 1948 would also need to be addressed in the process.

A resolution of the current crisis requires the phrasing of a one state solution in practical terms. However, ultimately the largest impediment is people’s convictions, mindsets and difficulties to imagine the new and dramatically different reality of living together in full equality with those currently considered enemies. Given the 70+ years of disastrous history behind us, this is of course in no way surprising. It is therefore the aspect of slowly but surely changing people’s outlook and mindset that our foundation will focus on. At the same time, we aim to present people with one state structures and models that would help Palestinians and Israelis to practically envision a new one state reality.

Since majority support among Palestinians and Israelis is ultimately most crucial for the one state model to work, our focus will be on engagement with these communities. However, we also intend to engage with the international community. Given its collective and firm investment in the two state paradigm for over two decades, without any signs of genuine success in bringing about such a solution, opening the conversation on one state in international circles is timely. Furthermore, international political, as well as practical, support could in turn muster support for this among Palestinians and Israelis.