The Two-State Solution and Partition: World History Perspectives on Palestine and India

Abstract

This essay contends that the two-state solution for Palestine-Israel derives its plausibility from the long career of partition, as idea and event, in the twentieth century and into the twenty first; as well as India and Palestine we can think of Ireland, Germany, Vietnam, Korea, and Cyprus. I put forward some comparative ‘world history’ reflections on partition in Palestine and India, focusing on individual thinkers who saw partition as a tragic mistake: Martin Buber and Walid Khalidi in relation to Palestine, and Gyanendra Pandey in relation to India. Gandhi will figure as well, for both Palestine and India. My contention is that the histories of partition in India and Palestine illuminate each other.