The idea of a single state in Palestine/Israel has been around for decades. The idea is now gaining more currency, with the failure of previous political processes to address the conflict's underlying tensions. An alternative to the exclusivist ideologies that are bound to perpetuate suffering in the region is desperately needed – and is on offer from disparate groups in Israel, Palestine and the rest of the world.

We are an informal group associated with the Palestinian Society of the School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London), dedicated to promoting the idea of a single state as a feasible and achievable option to the status quo. Challenging the Boundaries will bring together academics and activists from Palestine and Israel to discuss the idea in public, for the first time in London.

The involvement of the international NGO community / European diplomatic community / International diplomatic community is a key to the success of open debate about a single state in Israel/Palestine. To that end, we would like to invite a representative from your office / group / organisation to attend the conference. We are confident that your presence and participation will contribute to the debate and advancement of the idea.

If you will be able to join us or you are willing to support us, please see details attached. We also ask that you help spread the word of this conference as widely as possible. We look forward to receiving you in London!


One State London Group

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Apologies for cross-multiple postings...




Challenging the Boundaries: A Single State in Palestine/Israel
London, 17/18 November 2007 | The Brunei Gallery – SOAS – University of London


Conference Program

Saturday, 17th of November 2007

9:00-9:30 AM

Registration SOAS Brunei Gallery, Lobby

9:30-9:45 AM

Opening Statement SOAS Brunei Gallery
Nur Masalha, University of Surrey, Reader in Religion and Politics and Director of the Centre for Religion and History and of the Holy Land Research Project at Saint Mary’s College,

9:45-11:45 AM

PANEL I: Why one state?
Panel Chair: Ghada Karmi, University of Exeter, Author of In Search of Fatima: A Palestinian Story (2002) and Married to another Man: Israel’s Dilemma in Palestine (2007)

The historical roots of the One State idea
Ilan Pappé, University of Exeter, Author of The Modern Middle East (2005) and The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine (2006)

A matter of immediate urgency, not a distant utopia
Joseph Massad, Columbia University, Author of The Persistence of the Palestinian Question: Essays on Zionism an the Palestinians (2006) and Desiring Arabs (2007)

The state of the One-State Idea
Ali Abunimah, Co-founder of Electronic Intifada, Author of One Country: A Bold Proposal to End the Israeli-Palestinian Impasse (2006)

11:45-12:00 AM

Tea Break

12:00-13:30 PM

PANEL II: Mapping the geopolitical landscape: past, present and future
Panel Chair: Haim Bresheeth, University of East London, Chair of Media and Cultural Studies

Leaving the Cake Whole
Ghazi Falah, University of Akron, Ohio, Co-editor of Geographies of Muslim Women: Gender, Religion, and Space (2005) and Author of Galilee and the Judaization Plans (in Arabic, 1993)

Local politics: the one state and the Palestinians
As'ad Ghanem, University of Haifa, Author of The Palestinian-Arab Minority in Israel, 1948-2000: A Political Study (2001) and The Palestinian Regime: A “Partial Democracy” (2002)

Frequently raised objections to the one-state solution: reviewing and assessing the opposition
Ghada Karmi, University of Exeter

With an eye to the future
Leila Farsakh, University of Massachusetts Boston, Author of Palestinian Labor Migration to
Israel: Labor, Land and Occupation (2005), and editor of Commemorating the Naqbe (2007).

13:30-14:30 PM

Lunch Break

14:30-16:00 PM

PANEL III (Presentations): Land, Citizenship, and Identity: Rethinking the nation-state
Panel Chair: Leila Farsakh, University of Massachusetts, Boston

Amnon Raz-Krakotzkin, Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva, Author of The Censor, the Editor, and the Text: The Catholic Church and the Shaping of the Jewish Canon in the Sixteenth Century (2007)

Nadim Rouhana, George Mason University, Author of Palestinian Citizens in an Ethnic Jewish State: Identities in Conflict (1997)

Omar Barghouti, Political Activist, Co-founder of the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI)

Tikva Honig-Parnass, Political Activist, Co-author of Between the Lines: Readings on Israel, the Palestinians, and the U.S. “War on Terror” (2007)

16:00-16:15 PM

Tea Break

16:15-18:00 PM

PANEL III (Discussion): Land, Citizenship, and Identity: Rethinking the nation-state
Panel Chair: Leila Farsakh University of Massachusetts, Boston


Sunday, 18th of November 2007


10:30-12:30 PM

PANEL IV: Looking at the past, rethinking the future
Panel Chair: Ali Abunimah

Drawing lessons from the case of South Africa
Louise Bethlehem, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Co-editor of South Africa in the Global Imaginary (2005) and Violence and Non-Violence in Africa (2007)

Northern Ireland: power sharing in a divided society
Kathleen O’Connell, Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Lebanon: the “re-unification”
Gilbert Achcar, SOAS, Co-author of Perilous Power: The Middle East and U.S. Foreign Policy (2007) and The 33-Day War: Israel’s War on Hezbollah in Lebanon and its Consequences (2007), Author of The Clash of Barbarisms: The Making of the New World Disorder (2006)

India – Pakistan: the partition
Sumantra Bose, London School of Economics, Author of Kashmir: The Roots of Conflict, Paths to Peace (2003) and Contested Lands: Israel-Palestine, Kashmir, Bosnia, Cyprus and Sri Lanka (2007)

12:30-13:30 PM

Lunch Break

13:30-16:00 PM

PANEL V: One state from within civil society social movements, and grassroots activism
Panel Chair: Omar Barghouti

The lived experience and stories of the invited activists will portray the current public mood in regards to the One-State option, and point at both the difficulties and the opportunities for promoting this line of thought among the various social movements and civil society organizations that are operating within the different communities. This mosaic of personal accounts and observations will provide the foundation for the following discussion about 'the way forward'.

Haidar Eid, Al-Quds University Gaza, Co-founder of One-State Group in Gaza

Eitan Bronstein, Political Activist, Zochorot (“Remebering”), Tel-Aviv-Jaffa

Eyal Sivan, University of East London, Film Director of The Specialist (1999) and Route 181: Fragments of a Journey in Palestine-Israel (2004)

Yousef Faker el Deen, Political Activist, Co-founder of Ajras Al-Awda (“Bells of Return”), Damascus

Rajaa Omari, Political Activist, Founder of Natrinkum (“We are waiting for you”), Haifa

16:00-16:15 PM

Tea Break

16:15-18:00 PM

PANEL VI: The way forward

A roundtable with several participants of the conference will discuss the necessary immediate actions required for advancing the discussion about alternatives to the two-state paradigm, and for developing the One-State idea into a meaningful political agenda


General Information


Fees:

30 £ (includes lunches, coffee, tea and biscuits)
20 £ Concession (includes lunches, coffee, tea and biscuits)

Support:

25 £ (Those who wont be able to attend the conference but are still willing to support this initiative have the option of buying a symbolic ticket. As a proof of gratitude we will deliver a DVD with video and audio of the conference proceedings)

Registration (please note that SEATS ARE LIMITED book in advance):

by email:  bookings@onestate.net

by bank transfer: request detail bank information at  bookings@onestate.net

by PAYPAL: follow the procedures at www.onestate.net

by cheque payable: send cheque payable to ONE STATE GROUP
Please post your cheque with attached note of email address to
C/O SOAS Palestine Society
Thornhaugh Street
London WC1H 0XG

Location:

SOAS Brunei Gallery
Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square
London, WC1H 0XG

Coming from the airport - From Heathrow Airport, it is possible to get to Russell Square on the Piccadilly Line (journey time about 45 minutes). There is a rail service from Gatwick to King's Cross and Victoria Stations.

by underground - The nearest underground stations are Russell Square (Piccadilly Line), Goodge Street (Northern Line), Tottenham Court Road (Central and Northern Lines), and Euston Square (Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City Lines).

by rail - Euston, St. Pancras and King's Cross mainline stations are all within walking distance. It is about fifteen minutes by taxi to the Channel Tunnel Rail Terminus at Waterloo.

by bus - There are regular bus services to Russell Square, including a service to and from Heathrow Airport by Airbus.

by road - Limited metered parking is available in the streets near the Brunei Gallery. There are public car parks in Bedford Way, Woburn Place/Coram Street, and Marchmont Street.

For bus and underground information you can also see the London Transport website at: www.transportforlondon.gov.uk

For a detailed map on how to get there see the Brunei Gallery website at: www.soas.ac.uk/gallery/findus.html


Contact Info:

+44(0)77 33 235 760

Web Site:

www.onestate.net

Organizer:

One State London Group

Supporters:

SOAS Palestine Society
SOAS University of London
SOAS London Middle East Institute