What will the land of Israel (or Land of Palestine if you prefer) look like when the problem between Israel and Palestine is resolved. Who knows? Whatever happens will most likely happen gradually rather than in one gulp. It will take time for the people on each side to trust the other. For the Israelis that means trusting that the Arabs will not make a violent intifada whenever a glitch occurs in the process (and glitches are bound to occur). For the Arabs it means trusting that Israelis will treat them with respect and will not use the security issue as a cover to allow encroachment on what little land they still have. There are zealots on both sides who have committed crimes (including murder) against the other side. They must be dealt with equally. Israel has at times destroyed the houses of terrorists, thereby punishing the families of terrorists as well as the terrorists themselves. OK if that's what it takes. But by the same token, when zealous Jewish settlers commit crimes against their Arab neighbors on the West Bank, the punishment should be equally harsh. In addition to punishing the criminals themselves, the settlements in which they live should then be reduced in size.
Let me suggest an answer to my above question. Perhaps cantonization temporarily or permanently could provide a possible path. To some extent it already exists. It needs some tweaking to make it more equitable and acceptable to the parties involved. Since Hamas in Gaza and Fatah on the West Bank do not see eye to eye, there would have to be 3 cantons (states) at least temporarily. Israel will have to continue to have the predominant security role for a long time. That will allow trust to build up on the Israeli side, and not having to worry about an expensive defense will help build the economies on the Palestinian sides.
Eventually it could evolve into a situation where Israel complains to the Palestines that they are not contributing enough to the common defense. Wouldn't that be something! I could see cantonization happening sooner with the West Bank Palestine. Gaza would be a harder nut, but a West Bank not responsible for Gaza could progress much faster economically and politically. Eventually the Gazans might realize that they are leaving themselves out of things and force Hamas to soften. Israel has to react to attacks from Gaza with counter-attacks as any nation would do, but it always must be ready to talk with them.
Whatever the outcome, it will be slow and a work in progress, as long as it moves in the right direction.
