Nine-State Solution to the Palestine / Israel Problem (written in 2021)

Tinyism is a political philosophy that believes current empires and nations should be dissolved into thousands of independent micro-states and city-states. This would vastly-improve democracy and enhance economies - recent statistics indicate small nations are the happiest, wealthiest, and most peaceful. Tinyism resembles the ideologies of Localism and Municipalism.

Palestine / Israel is one of the world’s ugliest quagmires, a Gordian knot of violent dysfunction. For years, a two-state solution has been suggested, but efforts in this direction pitifully collapse. A one-state solution is also recommended. Ha! Tinyists regard this narrative as heading in the wrong direction.

I suggest a Nine-State Solution of peaceful, democratic, autonomous micro-states.

Please regard the new nations below:

GAZA: This minuscule region of 2 million people deserves more land, so we’d give it an adjacent chunk of the Negev, based on the first United Nations treaty. Gaza has a 5,000-year-old history (Canaanites, Egyptians, Philistines, Assyrians, Greeks, Bedouins, Nabateans, Romans, Arabs, Crusaders, Mongols, Ottomans, British) plus Mediterranean beaches, curious tunnels, and world-wide sympathy.

PALESTINE (aka West Bank): Deeply conflicted area of 2.9 million inhabitants residing in 167 Arab “islands” and 230 Israeli settlements. After our mini state is established, the economy will thrive on the 29% of the land that’s arable, plus tourism: Dead Sea visitor cash will finally benefit Palestinians, instead of Israel who’s been brazenly keeping 93% of that revenue. Bethlehem and Jericho are also top religious draws. First step: the 400,000 Jewish colonists must be relocated out of here; this opinion isn’t extreme; it’s held by most legal scholars plus the European Union and almost every other international entity. The capitol? Ramallah is preferred.  

TEL AVIV (current Tel Aviv District): Wealthy and secular, this colorful metropolis-nation of 1.4 million - dubbed the “Mediterranean Capitol of Cool" by the New York Times - can happily gain independence from their black-garbed ultraorthodox kin with Mosaic traditional laws. Vibrant nightlife, tasty cuisine, gay pride, music, and art museums will establish this young cultural center in the top-tier of tiny city-states, like a Singapore with chewing gum, or Monaco with falafels.  

SHARON VALLEY (current Central Israel District): Surrounding Tel Aviv with similar beaches, digital know-how, and industrial parks is this 88% Jewish region of 2.2 million residents, oft-dubbed “Little Russia” due to the large number of immigrants who made aliyah after the fall of the Soviet Union. Additionally, there are Ethiopian Jews and Yemenite Jews in Rehovot, Karachi Pakistan Jews in Ramla, and 70,000 Orthodox Jews in Petah Tikva. The capitol can be Rishon LeZion - it’s already a fiscally autonomous city! With an excellent wine scene. 

NEGEV (current Southern Israel District): This region of 1.1 million (80% Jewish, 13% Muslim) comprises more than 50% of current Israel’s land mass; it can easily accommodate more inhabitants, like ‘settlers’ removed from the West Bank. Beersheba can remain the capital, with Eilat on the Red Sea as top tourist destination, plus visits to Bedouins and kibbutzim. Negev has enormous interest to geologists - it’s the oldest surface on Earth (1.8 million years), and to biologists - wildlife includes leopards, wolves, jackals, gazelles, ibex, oryx, striped hyena, and Asiatic wild ass.  

HAIFA (current Haifa District): The 1 million residents of this harbor and its environs thrive economically, reflected in the jingle: “Haifa works, Jerusalem prays, Tel Aviv plays.” Heavy industry, high tech parks, petroleum refining, and chemical processing provide the backbone. Haifa, although majority Jewish, it has significant populations of Muslim, Druze, Christian, and Baha’i. Road signs in Haifa city are in Hebrew, Arabic, English, and Cyrillic (to assist Greek Melkites and Orthodox and the 25% Russian community). It can be an experiment in multicultural peace.  

KINNERET or GALILEE (the current Northern Israel District, minus Nazareth, and the Golan Heights): Religious demographics in this proposed micro-nation of 1.3 million are potentially volatile; one estimate is 44% Jews, 37% Muslims, 8% Druze, and 7% Christian, plus Baha’i and “others.” Golan Heights must be returned to Syria (only USA acknowledges Israel’s claim) and Nazareth needs to be a separate entity. Religious centers need to be respected: Tiberius for Judaism, and Akko Old Town for Islam. If its peaceful, religious tourism can buttress the economy. 

NAZARETH (current city limits): Riots between Arabs and Jews in 2003, 2014, 2021 indicate international supervision is needed for the 77,000 inhabitants: 40% Jewish, 40% Muslim, 20% Christian. Politically the small city-state requires a fully transparent democracy, with a legal system (judges and lawyers) and police force provided by the United Nations, for as long as necessary. Economically, this childhood home of Jesus, founder of the world’s largest religion, has enormous potential, if comfortable safety is guaranteed. 

JERUSALEM (current Jerusalem District): Yikes! This hot-spot, a fanatically inflamed boil of 1.1 million residents, cannot be mis-managed or it will explode. Jerusalem has Nazareth problems multiplied exponentially, requiring similar care. Secular democracy modeled on Rojava confederalism is ideal, because it provides self-governance to every demographic. Free, easy access to the Temple Mount is essential. The recent UN budget of 3.2 billion can keep the peace here; it’s helpful supervision in Jerusalem was previously suggested by Israel in 2000.