The Center for Peace Studies (CPS) of the South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG) at North South University (NSU) conducted a webinar on ‘Israel-Palestine: Is the Two-State Solution Still Viable?’ on 22 January. The event was live streamedfrom the official Facebook page of CPS.
Keynote speaker Mr. Mouin Rabbani, a non-resident fellow at the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies (CHS), Doha & Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), USA, addressed the pressing issue. Professor Mohammed Nuruzzaman of the Department of Political Science & Sociology (PSS) at NSU was the moderator of the event. The presence of Professor Dr. Sk. Tawfique M. Haque, Acting Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and Director of CPS and SIPG, along with Dr. Abdul Wohab, Coordinator of CPS, added to the significance of the event.
During the webinar, speakers highlighted the ongoing hostilities since October 7, 2023, attributing them to Israeli settler colonialism in Palestinian territories, ‘backed by the United States of America (USA) and the European Union (EU)’. They emphasized that the 1993 Oslo Accords were not intended to end the Israeli occupation but rather institutionalize it. The current Hamas-Israel conflict, they warned, poses a serious threat to the entire Middle East region without decisive global intervention.
Mr. Rabbani, in his keynote speech, stated that people with certain stakes and agendas oppose the two-state solution citing the political among USA and EU leaders to maintain the status quo of the occupation of Palestinian territories. He asserted that the USA may only compel Israel to end the occupation of Palestinian territories if the cost of maintaining the occupation exceeds the benefits to the USA. The keynote speaker argued that the Oslo Agreement failed to recognize Palestinian rights, contributing to an intensification of the occupation. Mr. Rabbani stressed that unless the international community takes precise measures, the occupation will persist.
Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, a Palestinian scholar based in Australia, emphasized the role of the global power dynamic, stating that settler colonialism persists due to Israeli actions. He noted that unless the USA and the European Union intervene, extremist Israeli regimes will continue military actions. Dr. Suleiman specified that while the general populations of the United States and Europe desire an end to the Israeli occupation, their respective governments refrain from imposing measures on Israel to address the issue.
Faculty members from NSU and SIPG were present at the event, actively engaging with Mr. Mouin Rabbani’s presentation. They contributed insightful questions and commentary, further enriching the discussion. Professor Mohammed Nuruzzaman highlighted Hamas’s battle against the powerful Israeli Defense Forces, warning of potential involvement from the USA, Iran, and European countries. He suggested that international intervention is crucial to preventing a prolonged war and maintaining regional balance.
