Travel the Arab world a bit, and you’ll find it’s hard for people to agree on much from one country to another. But whether it’s Palestinians in Dubai, Syrians, Lebanese or Chadians, there’s one point on which everyone seems to find common ground: Muammar Qaddafi, the de facto leader of the Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, is a freakin’ crackpot.
Crackpot, despot and buffoon he may be. But I have to say, his op-ed in The New York Times yesterday arguing for a one-state solution in Israel and Palestine was well put. With his track record, Qaddafi’s claim of interest in peace is preposterous, and it will be easy for detractors to void his argument based on the colonel’s utter lack of credibility. (In that sense, I think it’s interesting that the Times chose to print the one-state argument under Qaddafi’s byline. There are far more credible and respectable people saying the exact same thing. Makes it look like it’s only the opinion of a maniac.)
If there is a one-state solution (in my opinion, the only thing that can practically occur in the long-run), I just hope it has a better name than Isratine. That silly title practically disqualifies the whole idea. What about the Democratic Republic of Palestine and Israel, where the borders of the two states are fully overlapping?
Oh, and here’s a letter to the editor in the Times that puts things a bit more clearly. (See original context here.)
To the Editor:
Kudos to The New York Times for printing the Op-Ed article from Muammar Qaddafi, which challenges the political orthodoxy in this country that the only solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a two-state solution.
While there are undoubtedly huge obstacles to a realistic one-state solution — one of which is the hatred of Jewish people, which has now been engendered in large parts of the non-Jewish population of this area — the two-state solution depends upon a doctrinal base that we should always reject: that one ethnic-religious group is entitled to rights superior to another.
It is baffling to me that people of good will who would denounce this doctrine in any other context are willing to accept it when it comes to Israel.
There is no doubt that the Jewish people have been subjected to horrendous persecution throughout history, with this evil reaching its apex in the 20th century, but the answer to such oppression must not be the oppression of others.
John L. Stainthorp
Chicago, Jan. 22, 2009
Eamon Kircher-Allen 
To the Editor:
COLONEL MUAMMAR AL QADDAFI’S “ISRATINE” SOLUTION
Muammar al Gaddafi’s “Isratine” Solution to Middle-East crisis looks attractive. However, it is neither divinely approvable nor humanly or politically feasible. The reasons are as follows:
1. There is a Divine command for Israel to possess the Promised Land, which God gave to their ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 15:18-21; Joshua 1:1-9). The Bible expressly points out Isaac, son of Abraham through Sarah, as the inheritor of this promise to Abraham – not Ishmael son of Abraham through Hagar (Genesis 21:12). Israel was commanded not to enter into any covenant with any of the wicked pagan nations found in the Promised Land. They were commanded to drive them out because of their godless and wicked culture and to take over the Land (Deuteronomy 7:1-5). Therefore, since the time of Abraham God has preserved both the ancestral and national identity of Israel for a prophetic reason – the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth; with JERUSALEM as the ETERNAL HEADQUARTERS (I Kings 11:36; II Kings 21:7; Revelation 21:1-4). God has promised to protect Jerusalem (Isaiah 35:5). The country of Israel is situated at the center of the earth (Ezekiel 38:10-16). The Land itself belongs to God and is given to Israel on tenancy bases (Leviticus 25:23).
2. On the other hand, the Arab world claims Abraham as their forefather through Ishmael, and believes that Ishmael was the hair of the Abrahamic covenant with Allah. Hence, you have a situation where two brothers claiming, each, the right of inheriting the entire fortune of their father. Even is a smaller family situation, this kind of misunderstanding has resulted in serious clashes and assassinations. This was what started happening between Isaac and Ishmael in Genesis 21:1-21. This is the origin of the Middle East crisis, hence, the perennial Arab-Israeli Conflict.
3. It is obvious today that deep in their hearts (in spite of all the peace agreements being signed between Israel and some Arab countries) the Palestinians are not willing to accept the right of Israel to exist as a nation. Israel equally does not recognize the right of establishing a Palestinian nation in that territory.
4. A one state “Astatine solution”, therefore, is an attempt to make cats and rats live in peace under one roof. It will only end up with a thing similar to the Apartheid problem of former South Africa. This is because Israel cannot grants the Palestinians equal rights with their Jewish citizens, even though there may be Jewish Muslims in Israel. The children of Isaac and those of Ishmael are like oil and water, which cannot mix; no matter how long you stir them together. The UN and other international peace making organizations should be mindful of these historical and prophetic facts in their efforts to reconcile the two nations. The problem between these two nations is not necessarily religious. It is a carry-over hatred from their ancestors over who is the rightful hair of Abraham.
5. The last reason why I believe “Isratine” will never work – which deserves serious attention – is the mistake the Arab world has been making in seeing and treating Israel and America as Christian nations. (These countries are not Christian nations. They are simply secular states like every other country of the world; having Christians, Jews Muslims, pagans, atheists and so on, as their citizens). The result of this mistaken identity is that anytime a Muslim country or person gets offended over anything anywhere in the world, Muslims resort to a global retaliation against their neighbour Christians. These Muslims go out in search of Christians to kill and their churches to burn; in retaliation for what happens to their people in other parts of the world. This has happened even when the incident has nothing to do with religion or Christianity; like the Miss. world incident some time ago. This is what makes the Middle East crisis a complex global phenomenon.
In conclusion, I sincerely encourage the UN to continue to do their best in pursuit of peace in the Middle East. However, I want to submit that the final solution to Palestinian-Israeli conflicts is the imminent RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST TO THIS EARTH TO ESTABLISH THE KINGDOM OF GOD. Muslims believe in this Return of “ISA”. In this Kingdom, peace will reign and wars will cease forever:
It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it, and many nations shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from JERUSALEM. He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide for strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more; but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and none shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken (Micah 4:1-4). AMEN!
Elijah U. Madu,
Nigeria