The “Quartet’s” Road Map to Peace is doomed for failure because all parties know that the Road Map has no adequate final solution regarding the city of Jerusalem. The “Quartet’s Road Map to Peace does not adequately address security of the Israeli nation and fails to solve the isolation and destitution of the Palestinian nation. Peace in the Middle East region will not happen until we have a resolution solving the Israeli/Palestinian dispute and resolve the internal problems in Lebanon. Peace will never take hold until all the different parties are integrated and learn to live together. Keeping these factions segregated will never result in a peaceful solution. Most likely, segregation will create hardships and increase tensions. Keeping Palestinians isolated will most likely bring about further economic hardships. For peace to take place, the three major religions of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity that hold Jerusalem to be their holy city need to be involved in the peace process solution. The areas of Israel, Gaza Strip, West Bank, Golan Heights, and Lebanon should be incorporated as one entity known as the United Nations of Jerusalem (UNJ). The United Nations of Jerusalem will consist of three nations; The Nation of Israel (Jewish Government), The Nation of Palestine (Islamic Government of Palestinian Muslims and Lebanese Muslims), and the Nation of Lebanon (Christian Government).

The United Nations of Jerusalem will be one territory where all Jews, Muslims, and Christians have the right to live anywhere they desire. This will address the concerns of the Palestinian people regarding their right to return to their homeland from which they were exiled. The United Nations of Jerusalem will be one geographic territory occupied by three nations, where the city of Jerusalem will be the national capital of Israel, Palestine, and Lebanon. The United Nations of Jerusalem will consist of three nations that operate as one government. For any law to pass, a minimum of two of the three nations (religious governments) need to approve the legislation. Each nation will consist of a president, vice president, cabinet, and a congress. So there will be an Israeli Nation consisting of a Jewish President and a Jewish Congress, a Palestinian Nation consisting of an Islamic President and an Islamic Congress, and a Lebanese Nation consisting of a Christian President and a Christian Congress. The three nations will meet in joint session with their members present to discuss issues of importance. After the joint session, each nation will go to its own chamber to discuss and vote on the matter. For any law to pass, it takes a minimum of two of the three nations to approve the legislation.

Each nation will function in a similar manner as the United States government operates concerning the executive and legislative branches of government. Security of the United Nations of Jerusalem shall be secured by a peace treaty with the European Union of Nations and the United States stating that these nations shall defend any of the three UNJ Nations if so attacked. The Israeli President would have sole authority of the UNJ Defense Force for the external defense of the United Nations of Jerusalem and would have sole control of the armed forces and of its armaments designated for that defense purpose for the first three years. UNJ Defense Forces shall gradually be integrated with Muslims and Christians. During the fourth year, the UNJ Defense Forces shall be under the sole control of the Palestinian President then on the fifth year the Defense Forces shall be under the sole control of the Lebanese President. Starting on the sixth year, annual rotations will be made on which National President shall be in charge of the UNJ Defense Forces. The UNJ Internal Forces (police and national guard) would be under the control of all three nations. During the first three years of the existence of the United Nations of Jerusalem, an international coalition of armed forces from the United States, European Union, and other interested nations will help in the creation, formation, and maintenance of this new internal army. During the formation of the UNJ Internal Force, the Nation of Israel will be responsible for its own defense within the pre-1967 borders for the first two years to enable its own security while the rule of law is being established in Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territories by the international forces. By the third year the UNJ internal forces shall be placed within the pre-1967 borders of Israel. By the fourth year, all of the international coalition forces shall reduce the level of troops within the United Nations of Jerusalem, but that the European Union of Nations and the United States shall always maintain bases in the UNJ. The Internal Forces of the UNJ shall consist of collective groups of Jews, Muslims, and Christians that operate as a single unit. There shall be no segregated militia groups based on religion. Militant militias such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and Islamic Jihad will be disarmed. The internal army shall be an integrated force of different religious groups working as one. The UNJ Internal Forces shall answer to all three nations. The Internal Forces will answer to the three defense ministers (cabinet members). The action of the UNJ Internal Forces will only occur when at least a minimum of two of the three defense ministers approve such action. There will be an Israeli Defense Minister, Palestinian Defense Minister, and Lebanese Defense Minister. Each of these defense ministers answer to their own national president and may be removed by their respective president. Each nation’s cabinet members shall be appointed by their respective national president along with the majority consent of their respective nation’s congress (Note, judges shall be selected in the same manner). Any cabinet member may be removed by their respective national president as that president sees fit (Note, judges may only be removed by a 2/3 vote of their respective nation’s congress).

The judicial system in the United Nations of Jerusalem would be represented by the three nations. The Supreme Court shall consist of three Jews selected by the Nation of Israel, three Muslims selected by the Nation of Palestine, and three Christians selected by the Nation of Lebanon. The United Nations of Jerusalem shall be governed by a doctrine of “Freedom of Religion” (one’s right to choose their religion freely). Each lower court shall consist of three judges; one Jewish judge, one Muslim judge, one Christian judge. The jury of any trial shall consist of three Jews, three Muslims, and three Christians. A decision or conviction by a jury shall take place only upon a vote of two-thirds (6/9) or more.

The election process shall be overseen by the three election commission ministers (cabinet positions). Again, an international coalition shall oversee the election process during the first four years. All United Nations of Jerusalem citizens shall register under their religious affiliations as either a Jew, a Muslim, or a Christian (subject to approval of election commission). All poling places throughout the United Nations of Jerusalem shall contain voting facilities for Jews, Muslims, and Christians no matter what the population size of that religious group shall be in a particular area. For example if a person is a Muslim, they will only vote for the Palestinian President, Palestinian Vice President, and Palestinian Congress. Each national presidential and vice presidential term shall be four years. National congressional terms shall be four years. Each national congress shall be elected on an at-large basis where each citizen votes for a political party. Each political party will receive its pro-rata share of congressional seats based on the percentage of votes received. Congressional elections will be based on the model that the Israelis use in electing Knesset Members. Such an election process ensures that minority factions will obtain seats in their respective national congress.

Many innocent people are suffering and dying over a conflict that can be settled. History tends to show that two sided conflicts are not easily resolved and usually result in bloody wars. The peace plan that I am presenting is a novel approach of creating a political process where there can be no stalemate. This situation creates an atmosphere of dialogue whereby all three nations know that they must compromise or be endangered of being left out if the other two nations vote against them.

A peace process referendum should be put to a vote to all peoples located in Israel, Gaza Strip, West Bank, Golan Heights, and Lebanon. Also, all the citizens of Lebanon who emigrated from that country since 1975 at the onset of the Lebanese Civil War should be part of the voting process concerning the “United Nations of Jerusalem” peace proposal and that these people should be allowed the choice to repatriate. The estimate of Lebanese leaving since 1975 is 70% Christian and 30% Muslim. Also, Christian minorities throughout the Middle East should be allowed to emigrate to the United Nations of Jerusalem (Such as the Assyrians, Copts, and other Arab Christians). Peace is a real possibility if people put an effort in attaining it. I pray that there may be a solution for peace and that the suffering will cease for all Jews, Muslims, and Christians. Let everyone pray for the peace in this area of the world and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Respectfully Yours:

Mr. Jon Allen Dolen

PO Box 67

Green Valley, IL 61534-0067 USA