Gershon Baskin feels that Jews can apply to be citizens of Palestine, under Palestinian law and sovereignty.
Traveling around the West Bank in the last days I would like to propose an idea – mainly to Palestinian refugees. If I were a “refugee” or the son of refugees living in the West Bank, I would drop my call for the right of return to my village that no longer exists and find a settlement in the middle of the West Bank – say along road 60. I would identify a nice spacious house there and declare – I give up my right of return – I will take this house instead.
If Israel and Palestine agree to a 4% Israeli annexation of the West Bank and equal territorial exchange, it will leave more than 75% of the settlers under Israel sovereignty. But some 80 settlements east of the agreed border will have to be vacated. These settlements are a perfect source of Israeli financial compensation for Palestinian refugees who have property claims for loss of homes and livelihood inside of Israel. Let’s propose this deal. I think that a lot of refugees and children and grandchildren of refugees living in the West Bank could imagine a pretty good future living in the homes of those settlements that will be vacated.
As for the settlers who will leave, they can move to the areas of Judea and Samaria that will be annexed. They can come back to Israel proper. All of them will receive financial assistance to make the move. They can also, if they like, apply to be citizens of Palestine, under Palestinian law and sovereignty. I know that this will be an option on the table. I think that very few will chose this option – but it will be there for consideration.