This article was originally published in the Polish daily Metropol.
In geopolitical terms, you could say that the controversial ‘Gaza Strip’ that is supposed to divide Palestine from Israel, has its equivalent in Europe, precisely at the point called ‘EUREGION’. Palestine and Israel could learn many practical lessons from this area that unites Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands. In fact Poland, and the other new EU member States could also learn from the EUREGION, because, contrary to what some might think, the European identity isn’t at all homogenous. One could forge that the European identify is founded on ‘harmony in diversity’.
From what I saw, heard, smelled, touched, felt, and ate at the EUREGION, I would firmly support such a hypothesis. This line of thought concretely dispels any fear that the European identity means a disintegration of national identity. Far from it. The new members States have nothing to fear, as the illustration below reveals.
The strip of land and official border that separates the town of Herzogenrath in Germany from Kerkrade in The Netherlands is exactly the width of a motor lane and, it is actually a motor lane. For a distance of several kilometres from Herzogenrath to Aachen in Germany our car had to speed along this motorway separating the two countries. Our car sped along the right lane, which practically was in The Netherlands and on our way back and getting to the same point, our car sped along the left lane, which was a part of Germany. When I learnt of this, curiosity took the better of me and I fired question after question at colleagues in the car, most of whom where from either of the three countries. In spite of the fact that an inhabitant of Herzogenrath could actually conduct a conversation with his neighbour in Kerkrade through the window, the conclusion was that each neighbourhood was conservative of its values. Even from the car, one could see that bikes were more popular in The Netherlands than in Germany, as was confirmed when our delegation finally made it to The Netherlands the next day.
Certain characteristics like language, memories, and other fundamental national values would never be compromised by any on either side of the border. As if to firmly remind the neighbour across the street, the flag of each nation flaps high and proud from rooftops and windows. I gathered teenagers living in Kerkrade would rally and go to a disco in the neighbouring German city of Aachen and while there they would stick to their bunch and wouldn’t even dance with German kids.
“The only period when it is advisable to stay indoors in this region is when there is a soccer match that pitches Germany against The Netherlands,” one of my colleagues said, adding, “Because then patriotism reaches an emotional climax! Otherwise, as you can see, peace reigns.”
Partly inspired by the EUREGION, serious contemplation later led me to imagine a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli crisis could be found in a ‘Three-State Solution’, rather than a Two-State. The question to confront here is; 'which, where and what is the Third State in the Palestinian-Israeli situation?' The answer is, ‘The UN’.
It is an open secret that the UN has lost steam. In order to regain its reputation and fulfil its lofty mission, it needs to become entirely independent. This means that the UN has to operate from a territory that is free and foreign.
With the consent of both nations, the Palestinian-Israeli border could be so marked that each country surrenders a limited portion of land, which could be as small or as big as a hundred metres in width, and which in length runs from Haifa to Gaza. This portion could rightly become an independent State, otherwise called ‘The State of the United Nations’. An office of the UN would be planted here and the land would host all the branches of the UN. Representatives to the UN from various countries would also inhabit it. Blue-berets would patrol both bothers and effectively separate Palestine from Israel. Such a move would kill two birds with one stone, i.e., bury the bloody hatchet between Palestine and Israel, and revoke the relevance of the UN.
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