Modest Proposal to End the Israel-Palestine Conflict – Trans Jordan Federation https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com/?author=1 https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com/?author=1 Modest Proposal to End the Israel-Palestine Conflict The post Modest Proposal to End the Israel-Palestine Conflict first appeared on The World According to Cosmos.
Modest Proposal to End the Israel-Palestine Conflict – Trans Jordan Federation
Modest Proposal to End the Israel-Palestine Conflict
Modest Proposal to End the Israel-Palestine Conflict – Trans Jordan Federation
Two-State Solution Revived – A Modest Proposal to End the Israel-Palestine Conflict
Modest Proposal to End the Israel-Palestine Conflict
Note: background information comes from -Co-Pilot AI assistance, but the idea is mine and mine alone. I will send this to President Trump and Secretary Rubio and report back if it goes anywhere,
By a retired U.S. Foreign Service Officer with a dream and a draft
France’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly has reignited global debate over the viability of a two-state solution. President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement — hailed by some as historic, condemned by others as reckless — has stirred reactions from Washington to Riyadh, and from Tel Aviv to Toronto.
But what if the answer isn’t two states — but four?
The Proposal: A Transjordan Federation
After decades of impasse, I propose a four-state federation:
Israel, Palestine (with a land bridge linking Gaza and the West Bank), Jordan, Jerusalem (as a shared capital and autonomous entity)
This Confederate States of Transjordan would feature:
A federal government with rotating leadership among the four states, Jerusalem as the capital of both Israel and Palestine, and of the federation itself
the President would serve as the chief of state and head of government, assisted by three vice presidents and a Prime Minister. The National Assembly will have guaranteed representation of Palestinian, Israeli, Jordanian and Jerusalem residents. Each State would have its own State assembly, and the bigger cities would have their own city councils.
All residents will be considered citizens of the Federation and can reside and work anywhere in the Federation but would pay taxes and vote in their home state. Overseas residents would the right to vote absentee.
A common market, currency, foreign policy, foreign trade relations, military, with multilingual governance (Arabic, English and Hebrew.)
Three official languages, -Arabic, English and Hebrew.
Right of return for both Jews and Palestinians, adjudicated by a land claims court
Mandatory public service for youth, with military and civilian options
Universities teaching in English, welcoming international students
Religious pluralism, with Islam, Christianity, and Judaism recognized and supported, including the right to not observe these religions or any religion.
Letter to President Trump, Secretary Rubio
Dear President Trump, Secretary Rubio,
I am a retired Foreign Service Officer. Though I never served in the Middle East, I volunteered for Yemen and have followed the peace process for decades.
I urge you to convene a new Camp David summit — but this time, invite Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Israel, and Palestine, the EU and perhaps China, India and Russia. The goal will be to create a Trans-Jordan federation to replace the existing states of Israel, Jeresulum, Jordon,and Palestine, thus ending the war in Gaza, and the West Bank through a just and fair new political arrangement, providing a state for Palestine, Israel, Jerusalem and Jordon.
Why a Federation?
The two-state solution has long been the diplomatic default. But it’s been undermined by settlements, extremism, and geopolitical inertia. A federation offers:
Shared sovereignty without erasure
Economic interdependence to reduce incentives for conflict
Cultural pluralism that reflects the region’s complexity
A framework for gradual reconciliation, not forced separation
Announce that the Trans Jordon Federation would recognize Islam, Christianity, and Judaism as official religions with state support, but individuals would be free to practice any religion or no religion.
Announce that the Federation Capitol would be Jerusalem, which will also be the capital of Israel, and Palestine, the Jordanian capital would remain in Aman.
Jews and Palestinians would have the right to return. A special land claims court would judge land disputes.
There would be a common market, a common currency, a joint military, and a federal government plus four State governments.
Schools would teach Arabic, Hebrew, and English, and an optional fourth langauge including Chinese, French, German, Japanese and and Spanish. The schools would, though, be either Arabic, Hebrew, or English (international school). The universities would mostly teach in English for the benefit of international students, who would make up to 25% of the student body. The goal would be for all citizens to be either trilingual or multilingual.
All government documents would be published in Arabic, Hebrew, and English. Government business would be conducted in Arabic, Hebrew, and English. With AI translation, this should be easy to implement.
Three years of public service will be required from age 18 to age 26 with each year a certain percentage being drafted. Most would serve in the military but some would do alternative service in Federal, state, or local government service. The terms of service could be extended once to a maximum of six years. All training programs would provide college credit.
Officers would serve their basic service and then be admitted to the military training program or a ROTC program. Same thing for NCOs.
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, and Iraq would immediately recognize the new state. Iran would explicitly recognize the right of Israel to exist.
The new state would take over the Israeli, and Jordanian seats at the UN and international organizations.
The Federal government would consist of a president and three vice presidents. Either the President or vice President would be from Israel, the other vice presidents would be from Jordan, Palestine, or Jerusalem. At the first presidential election, the decision would be made on a random basis on which state the President must come from, they must either be an Israeli or a Jordanian, Palestinian, or Jerusalem citizen. Then the next election the presidency would rotate until an Israel, Palestine, and Jerusalem person has served as President the cycle would repeat.
The national assembly would have reserved seats for each of the four states with 50 percent reserved for Israel, and 50 percent reserved for the other states. The President and National Assembly would serve single six-year terms with one re-election permitted.
Israel would offer a land swap with Palestine. Israel would create a land bridge to the Gaza Strip and expand the Gaza Strip to become the port and airport for the Palestinian state. Israel would give up 10 to 20 percent of their land, as would Palestine. The settlements will be frozen but would be considered to be part of the new Palestinian state, but with considerable local autonomy, including having Hebrew language public schools.
Final Thoughts
I am not an expert on the Middle East. My career focused on East Asia. But I believe that imagination is a form of diplomacy, and that peace requires new maps.
Let the Transjordan Federation be born from diplomacy, not despair.
Sincerely,
John (Jake) Cosmos Aller
Retired US State Department Foreign Service Officer
Why This Matters Now
France’s recognition of Palestine — the first by a G7 nation — has fractured Western consensus. Macron’s move is seen by some as a symbolic lifeline for diplomacy, and by others as a reward for terrorism.
U.S. Right-Wing Response
Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the move “reckless” and “a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th”
Ambassador Mike Huckabee suggested France “carve out a Palestinian state from the French Riviera”
President Trump dismissed the plan, proposing instead a U.S. takeover of Gaza — dubbed the “Riviera of the Middle East” by critics
Israeli Reaction
Prime Minister Netanyahu condemned Macron’s decision as “a launch pad to annihilate Israel”
Defense Minister Israel Katz called it “a disgrace and a surrender to terrorism”
Middle East & European Views
Saudi Arabia welcomed the move as “historic”
Spain praised France for “protecting the two-state solution”
Germany and the UK remain cautious, citing concerns over Hamas and regional stability
Left-Wing Perspectives
These sources generally support Palestinian recognition and critique Israeli policy.
- Middle East Monitor
Summary: Reports on the New Popular Front’s electoral victory and pledge to recognize Palestine “as quickly as possible.”
URL: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240709-left-wing-french-alliance-vows-to-recognise-palestine-as-quickly-as-possible/ - Daily Sabah
Summary: Covers Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s vow to recognize Palestine following the left-wing coalition’s success.
URL: https://www.dailysabah.com/world/europe/french-left-wing-leader-melenchon-vows-to-recognize-palestine - FDD (Flash Brief)
Summary: Details the left-wing coalition’s platform, including ICC support and arms embargoes on Israel.
URL: https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2024/07/08/victorious-left-wing-coalition-in-france-pushes-for-immediate-recognition-of-palestinian-state/
Right-Wing Perspectives
These sources express strong opposition to France’s move, citing security risks and support for Hamas.
- France 24
Summary: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio calls the decision “reckless”; Israel condemns it as “a reward for terror.”
URL: https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20250725-us-strongly-rejects-french-plan-to-recognise-palestine-saudis-hail-historic-decision - FDD (Flash Brief)
Summary: Argues that recognition would trigger U.S. funding cuts to the UN and embolden Hamas.
URL: https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2025/07/25/frances-macron-announces-intent-to-recognize-palestinian-state/ - USA Today
Summary: Highlights backlash from Israel and the U.S., including Netanyahu’s claim that Palestine seeks to replace Israel.
URL: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2025/07/25/french-plan-to-recognize-palestinian-state-draws-fire-from-israel-us/85369390007/
Centrist / Mixed Perspectives
These sources offer balanced reporting, including diplomatic context and international reactions.
- The Independent (UK)
Summary: Macron’s announcement and its implications for France’s role in the Middle East and UN diplomacy.
URL: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/france-recognise-palestinian-state-un-macron-b2795634.html - Al-Monitor
Summary: Explains France’s motivations, symbolic impact, and potential ripple effects across Europe.
URL: https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/07/explainer-why-france-recognising-palestinian-statehood-and-who-else-has - Deutsche Welle (DW)
Summary: Covers Macron’s announcement, reactions from Israel and Hamas, and broader diplomatic fallout.
URL: https://www.dw.com/en/middle-east-france-to-formally-recognize-palestinian-state/live-73394822
Middle East War Choka
watching morning news
war in the middle east
congressional breakdown
drinking my coffee
transfixed watching the war
both sides blame each other
will peace ever come?
hard to see beyond hate
neither can get beyond that
in the end, they must
embrace two-state solution
many will die before then
France’s recognition of Palestine may not end the war. But it may reopen the door to ideas like this — hybrid, hopeful, and hard to dismiss.
Proposed Map: The Transjordan Federation
To help readers visualize the concept, here’s a hypothetical map of a unified Israeli-Palestinian federal state from the early 2030s. It shows:
Israel and Palestine as distinct but federated entities
A land bridge connecting Gaza and the West Bank
Jerusalem as a shared capital
Jordan integrated into the federation with Amman as its state capital
Timeline of Peace Efforts and Turning Points
Here’s a condensed timeline to situate your proposal within the broader arc of diplomacy:
|
Year |
Event | Impact |
| 1947 | UN Partition Plan | Proposed two states; rejected by Arab states |
| 1967 | Six-Day War | Israel occupies Gaza, West Bank, East Jerusalem |
| 1978–79 | Camp David Accords & Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty | First Arab-Israeli peace deal; sidelined Palestinians |
| 1993–95 | Oslo Accords I & II | Mutual recognition; Palestinian Authority created |
| 2002 | Arab Peace Initiative | Proposed full normalization in exchange for withdrawal |
| 2020 | Abraham Accords | UAE, Bahrain normalize ties with Israel; no Palestinian input |
| 2024 | France announces recognition of Palestine | Revives global debate on two-state viability |
| 2025 | Proposal for Transjordan Federation gains traction | Hybrid solution re-enters discourse amid regional fatigue |
For a deeper dive, PBS offers a comprehensive timeline of Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts that tracks diplomacy from Oslo to Gaza.
Substack
Substack Podcast
Medium
Wattpad
Spotify Podcast
the end
3
20
20
20
Two-State Solution Revived – A Modest Proposal to End the Israel-Palestine Conflict
Modest Proposal to End the Israel-Palestine Conflict
Note: background information comes from -Co-Pilot AI assistance, but the idea is mine and mine alone. I will send this to President Trump and Secretary Rubio and report back if it goes anywhere,
By a retired U.S. Foreign Service Officer with a dream and a draft
France’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly has reignited global debate over the viability of a two-state solution. President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement — hailed by some as historic, condemned by others as reckless — has stirred reactions from Washington to Riyadh, and from Tel Aviv to Toronto.
But what if the answer isn’t two states — but four?
The Proposal: A Transjordan Federation
After decades of impasse, I propose a four-state federation:
Israel, Palestine (with a land bridge linking Gaza and the West Bank), Jordan, Jerusalem (as a shared capital and autonomous entity)
This Confederate States of Transjordan would feature:
A federal government with rotating leadership among the four states, Jerusalem as the capital of both Israel and Palestine, and of the federation itself
the President would serve as the chief of state and head of government, assisted by three vice presidents and a Prime Minister. The National Assembly will have guaranteed representation of Palestinian, Israeli, Jordanian and Jerusalem residents. Each State would have its own State assembly, and the bigger cities would have their own city councils.
All residents will be considered citizens of the Federation and can reside and work anywhere in the Federation but would pay taxes and vote in their home state. Overseas residents would the right to vote absentee.
A common market, currency, foreign policy, foreign trade relations, military, with multilingual governance (Arabic, English and Hebrew.)
Three official languages, -Arabic, English and Hebrew.
Right of return for both Jews and Palestinians, adjudicated by a land claims court
Mandatory public service for youth, with military and civilian options
Universities teaching in English, welcoming international students
Religious pluralism, with Islam, Christianity, and Judaism recognized and supported, including the right to not observe these religions or any religion.
Letter to President Trump, Secretary Rubio
Dear President Trump, Secretary Rubio,
I am a retired Foreign Service Officer. Though I never served in the Middle East, I volunteered for Yemen and have followed the peace process for decades.
I urge you to convene a new Camp David summit — but this time, invite Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Israel, and Palestine, the EU and perhaps China, India and Russia. The goal will be to create a Trans-Jordan federation to replace the existing states of Israel, Jeresulum, Jordon,and Palestine, thus ending the war in Gaza, and the West Bank through a just and fair new political arrangement, providing a state for Palestine, Israel, Jerusalem and Jordon.
Why a Federation?
The two-state solution has long been the diplomatic default. But it’s been undermined by settlements, extremism, and geopolitical inertia. A federation offers:
Shared sovereignty without erasure
Economic interdependence to reduce incentives for conflict
Cultural pluralism that reflects the region’s complexity
A framework for gradual reconciliation, not forced separation
Announce that the Trans Jordon Federation would recognize Islam, Christianity, and Judaism as official religions with state support, but individuals would be free to practice any religion or no religion.
Announce that the Federation Capitol would be Jerusalem, which will also be the capital of Israel, and Palestine, the Jordanian capital would remain in Aman.
Jews and Palestinians would have the right to return. A special land claims court would judge land disputes.
There would be a common market, a common currency, a common foreign policy, foreign trade relations, joint military, common international sports teams, and a federal government plus four State governments.
Schools would teach Arabic, Hebrew, and English, and an optional fourth language including Chinese, French, German, Japanese and and Spanish. The schools would, though, be either Arabic, Hebrew, or English (international school). The universities would mostly teach in English for the benefit of international students, who would make up to 25% of the student body. The goal would be for all citizens to be either trilingual or multilingual.
All government documents would be published in Arabic, Hebrew, and English. Government business would be conducted in Arabic, Hebrew, and English. With AI translation, this should be easy to implement.
Three years of public service will be required from age 18 to age 26 with each year a certain percentage being drafted. Most would serve in the military but some would do alternative service in Federal, state, or local government service. The terms of service could be extended once to a maximum of six years. All training programs would provide college credit.
Officers would serve their basic service and then be admitted to the military training program or a ROTC program. Same thing for NCOs.
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, and Iraq would immediately recognize the new state. Iran would explicitly recognize the right of Israel to exist.
The new state would take over the Israeli, and Jordanian seats at the UN and international organizations.
The Federal government would consist of a president and three vice presidents. Either the President or vice President would be from Israel, the other vice presidents would be from Jordan, Palestine, or Jerusalem. At the first presidential election, the decision would be made on a random basis on which state the President must come from, they must either be an Israeli or a Jordanian, Palestinian, or Jerusalem citizen. Then the next election the presidency would rotate until an Israel, Palestine, and Jerusalem person has served as President the cycle would repeat.
The national assembly would have reserved seats for each of the four states with 50 percent reserved for Israel, and 50 percent reserved for the other states. The President and National Assembly would serve single six-year terms with one re-election permitted.
Israel would offer a land swap with Palestine. Israel would create a land bridge to the Gaza Strip and expand the Gaza Strip to become the port and airport for the Palestinian state. Israel would give up 10 to 20 percent of their land, as would Palestine. The settlements will be frozen but would be considered to be part of the new Palestinian state, but with considerable local autonomy, including having Hebrew language public schools.
Final Thoughts
I am not an expert on the Middle East. My career focused on East Asia. But I believe that imagination is a form of diplomacy, and that peace requires new maps.
Let the Transjordan Federation be born from diplomacy, not despair.
Sincerely,
John (Jake) Cosmos Aller
Retired US State Department Foreign Service Officer
Why This Matters Now
France’s recognition of Palestine — the first by a G7 nation — has fractured Western consensus. Macron’s move is seen by some as a symbolic lifeline for diplomacy, and by others as a reward for terrorism.
U.S. Right-Wing Response
Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the move “reckless” and “a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th”
Ambassador Mike Huckabee suggested France “carve out a Palestinian state from the French Riviera”
President Trump dismissed the plan, proposing instead a U.S. takeover of Gaza — dubbed the “Riviera of the Middle East” by critics
Israeli Reaction
Prime Minister Netanyahu condemned Macron’s decision as “a launch pad to annihilate Israel”
Defense Minister Israel Katz called it “a disgrace and a surrender to terrorism”
Middle East & European Views
Saudi Arabia welcomed the move as “historic”
Spain praised France for “protecting the two-state solution”
Germany and the UK remain cautious, citing concerns over Hamas and regional stability
Left-Wing Perspectives
These sources generally support Palestinian recognition and critique Israeli policy.
- Middle East Monitor
Summary: Reports on the New Popular Front’s electoral victory and pledge to recognize Palestine “as quickly as possible.”
URL: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240709-left-wing-french-alliance-vows-to-recognise-palestine-as-quickly-as-possible/ - Daily Sabah
Summary: Covers Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s vow to recognize Palestine following the left-wing coalition’s success.
URL: https://www.dailysabah.com/world/europe/french-left-wing-leader-melenchon-vows-to-recognize-palestine - FDD (Flash Brief)
Summary: Details the left-wing coalition’s platform, including ICC support and arms embargoes on Israel.
URL: https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2024/07/08/victorious-left-wing-coalition-in-france-pushes-for-immediate-recognition-of-palestinian-state/
Right-Wing Perspectives
These sources express strong opposition to France’s move, citing security risks and support for Hamas.
- France 24
Summary: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio calls the decision “reckless”; Israel condemns it as “a reward for terror.”
URL: https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20250725-us-strongly-rejects-french-plan-to-recognise-palestine-saudis-hail-historic-decision - FDD (Flash Brief)
Summary: Argues that recognition would trigger U.S. funding cuts to the UN and embolden Hamas.
URL: https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2025/07/25/frances-macron-announces-intent-to-recognize-palestinian-state/ - USA Today
Summary: Highlights backlash from Israel and the U.S., including Netanyahu’s claim that Palestine seeks to replace Israel.
URL: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2025/07/25/french-plan-to-recognize-palestinian-state-draws-fire-from-israel-us/85369390007/
Centrist / Mixed Perspectives
These sources offer balanced reporting, including diplomatic context and international reactions.
- The Independent (UK)
Summary: Macron’s announcement and its implications for France’s role in the Middle East and UN diplomacy.
URL: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/france-recognise-palestinian-state-un-macron-b2795634.html - Al-Monitor
Summary: Explains France’s motivations, symbolic impact, and potential ripple effects across Europe.
URL: https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/07/explainer-why-france-recognising-palestinian-statehood-and-who-else-has - Deutsche Welle (DW)
Summary: Covers Macron’s announcement, reactions from Israel and Hamas, and broader diplomatic fallout.
URL: https://www.dw.com/en/middle-east-france-to-formally-recognize-palestinian-state/live-73394822
Middle East War Choka
watching morning news
war in the middle east
congressional breakdown
drinking my coffee
transfixed watching the war
both sides blame each other
will peace ever come?
hard to see beyond hate
neither can get beyond that
in the end, they must
embrace two-state solution
many will die before then
France’s recognition of Palestine may not end the war. But it may reopen the door to ideas like this — hybrid, hopeful, and hard to dismiss.
Proposed Map: The Transjordan Federation
To help readers visualize the concept, here’s a hypothetical map of a unified Israeli-Palestinian federal state from the early 2030s. It shows:
Israel and Palestine as distinct but federated entities
A land bridge connecting Gaza and the West Bank
Jerusalem as a shared capital
Jordan integrated into the federation with Amman as its state capital
Timeline of Peace Efforts and Turning Points
Here’s a condensed timeline to situate your proposal within the broader arc of diplomacy:
|
Year |
Event | Impact |
| 1947 | UN Partition Plan | Proposed two states; rejected by Arab states |
| 1967 | Six-Day War | Israel occupies Gaza, West Bank, East Jerusalem |
| 1978–79 | Camp David Accords & Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty | First Arab-Israeli peace deal; sidelined Palestinians |
| 1993–95 | Oslo Accords I & II | Mutual recognition; Palestinian Authority created |
| 2002 | Arab Peace Initiative | Proposed full normalization in exchange for withdrawal |
| 2020 | Abraham Accords | UAE, Bahrain normalize ties with Israel; no Palestinian input |
| 2024 | France announces recognition of Palestine | Revives global debate on two-state viability |
| 2025 | Proposal for Transjordan Federation gains traction | Hybrid solution re-enters discourse amid regional fatigue |
For a deeper dive, PBS offers a comprehensive timeline of Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts that tracks diplomacy from Oslo to Gaza.
Substack
Substack Podcast
Medium
Wattpad
Spotify Podcast
the end
The post Modest Proposal to End the Israel-Palestine Conflict first appeared on The World According to Cosmos.
