Program
and Panels

The One State Conference will host 20 speakers who will participate in seven panel discussions. On this page you will find information about the panels. Visit the speakers page to read the participants' bios.


Saturday March 3

Time Event Location
9:00 – 9:15 AM Welcome and Introduction
Ahmed Moor 		Kennedy School Forum
9:15 – 10:00 AM Opening Remarks – The Status Quo
Duncan Kennedy 		Kennedy School Forum
10:00 – 11:30 AM What happened to the two-state solution?
Ali Abunimah, Eve Spangler, Stephen Walt 		Kennedy School Forum
11:30 – 1:00 PM What is the “one-state solution”?
Susan Akram, Dalit Baum, Nimer Sultany 		Kennedy School Forum
1:00 – 2:00 PM Lunch Break Kennedy School Forum
2:00 – 3:15 PM Keynote:
Ali Abunimah 		Kennedy School Forum
3:30 – 5:00 PM Nationhood and cultural identity: The preservation of the peoples
Sa'ed Atshan, Marc Ellis, Heike Schotten 		Kennedy School Forum
5:00 – 7:00 PM Evening Reception To be Announced

Sunday March 4

Time Event Location
9:00 – 9:15 AM Welcome
Elisha Baskin		 Kennedy School Forum
9:15 – 10:00 AM Opening Remarks
Diana Buttu		 Kennedy School Forum
10:00 – 11:30 AM What are the obstacles to the realization of a one-state solution?
Amahl Bishara, Elaine Hagopian, Itamar Mann 		Kennedy School Forum
11:30 – 1:00 PM Keynote:
Ilan Pappe		 Kennedy School Forum
1:00 – 2:00 PM Lunch Break Kennedy School Forum
2:00 – 3:30 PM From Here to There: Building a Global Movement
Leila Farsakh, Rabbi Brant Rosen, Sarah Schulman 		Kennedy School Forum
3:50 – 5:00 PM A History of Violence
Naor Ben-Yehoyada, Timothy McCarthy, Nadim Rouhana 		Kennedy School Forum
5:00 – 5:15 PM Closing Statements Kennedy School Forum

Panel Titles and Descriptions

(Subject to modification)


Panel 1: What happened to the two-state solution?
Today, increasing numbers of Palestinians and Israelis are discussing the one-state solution. But does that mean that they no longer seek the implementation of the two-state solution? This panel will trace the Oslo process’s trajectory to explain why “two-states for two peoples” is no longer a viable option for Israel/Palestine. Furthermore, the panelists will discuss why many people default to one-state in lieu of other arrangements.
Panel 2: What is the “one-state solution?”
What do advocates of a one-state solution mean when the call for a single state in Israel/Palestine? What is the basis for their call? What are its legal and moral implications? Do different groups – like Palestinians and right-wing Israelis – define one-state in the same way?
Panel 3: Nationhood and cultural identity: The preservation of the peoples
Both Palestinians and Israelis value their cultural identities and will likely seek to preserve them. What role should the state play in the maintenance of the national groups’ identities? Will it be necessary to forge a new, shared identity in the new state?
Panel 4: What are the obstacles to the one-state solution’s implementation?
Many people with an intimate understanding of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict insist that the one-state solution is wholly impossible to implement. Worse, it is a recipe for protracted ethnic bloodshed. Could that be true? What are the largest obstacles standing in the way of a democratic single state?
Panel 5: From Here to There: Building a Global Movement
While growing numbers of people around the world are beginning to call for a single state, the solution remains at the fringes of the conversation about Palestine and Israel. What is the role of academics and activists in promoting their vision? Should they actively engage with building the movement? If so, are there avenues for their activities?
Panel 6: A History of Violence: Truth and Reconciliation
As in other conflict zones, the Palestinians and Israelis will one day need to share the same land and resources in one country. Yet, a great deal of violence has isolated the two peoples from one another. And individuals who may have committed war crimes may remain at large. How can the open wounds of the past be healed? How can justice for the victims of racism or violence be achieved?