An Obstacle on the Road to Peaceful Negotiations Between Israel and Palestine.
The level of displacement surrounding the Israel-Palestinian conflict is astounding. At this point there are over nine million Palestinian refugees scattered throughout the globe (King-Irani 924,). Arguing that their situation is dehumanizing and infringes upon their human rights, Palestinians have consistently demanded the right of return as a prerequisite for peace negotiations (Tovy 40). This paper argues, on the other hand, that if Palestinians seek the success of negotiations with Israel in the establishment of a two-state solution, this demand must be overlooked. As this paper argues, a rational Israel cannot be expected to agree to the right of return. Therefore if forward progress is to be made, the Palestinian negotiating arm must withdraw their demand for the right of return because it represents a roadblock on the path toward a peaceful solution between the two states.