Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert unveiled for the first time the map of his two-state peace plan during the 2008 negotiations, presenting it to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on September 16 of the same year. The proposal, which has remained largely under wraps until now, reveals significant territorial compromises aimed at resolving one of the most complex geopolitical issues of our time.
The map, disclosed for the first time in the BBC documentary Israel and the Palestinians: The Road to 7th October, outlined the establishment of a Palestinian state on 94 percent of the West Bank. It proposed the annexation of approximately 4.9 percent of the region, largely to retain major Jewish settlements, along with equivalent land exchanges near the borders of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Olmert urged Abbas to sign on the spot, declaring, "This is the first time I expose this map to the media. Sign it! Sign it and let's change history!" He argued to Abbas, "in the next 50 years, you will not find one Israeli leader who will propose to you what I am proposing now,” as reported by BBC. He suggested constructing a tunnel or highway to connect Gaza with the West Bank, thereby facilitating movement and trade.
One of the plan's key features addressed the contentious status of Jerusalem. Both parties were to claim parts of the city as their capital, with Olmert proposing to place the Old City and significant religious sites under the stewardship of an international trusteeship comprised of Israel, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the United States.
Yet, even with Olmert’s ambitious offer on the table, Abbas refrained from signing the agreement. He responded cautiously, stating, "Prime Minister, this is very serious. It is very, very, very serious," highlighting the gravity of the proposal. He insisted on the necessity to consult his advisors and experts before proceeding, leading to tensions. Olmert, unwilling to let the map leave his sight, forbade Abbas from taking it back without immediate agreement.
The discussions, initially promising, faltered as the political climate shifted. Abbas’s reluctance was compounded by prevailing skepticism toward Olmert’s capability to deliver. Amid corruption allegations and nearing resignation, Olmert's political clout was perceived as waning. "It is unfortunate...was a lame duck," lamented Rafiq Husseini, Abbas’s chief of staff at the time, indicating the Palestinians saw little value in continuing negotiations with someone whose authority was presumed compromised.
The failed summit would only exacerbate already strained relations. Soon after the 2008 negotiations, the region was rocked by conflict as Israel launched Operation Cast Lead against Hamas, following rocket attacks from Gaza. This brutal military campaign marked the prelude to another era of violence, splintering hopes for peace.
Olmert’s proposal, considered by some as the most ambitious offer israel ever presented to the Palestinians, has since become emblematic of the seemingly insurmountable barriers to peace. Analysts debated whether Abbas’s failure to sign the agreement was emblematic of the Palestinian leadership's inability to accept what Israel considered reasonable or if Olmert's personal challenges and political instability rendered the proposal mute.
Despite subsequent attempts to rekindle peace talks, efforts have stalled, leading to what many now see as a definitive breakdown of negotiations, with no substantial discourse resuming since 2014. Olmert now reflects on what could have been, asserting, "If Abbas had signed, accountability shifts to Israel if things go wrong, and the consequences would have been theirs to bear"—a bittersweet contemplation on lost opportunities.
With the release of this documentary and the public disclosure of the two-state solution map, Olmert hopes to shed light on the possibilities of the past. Whether this retrospective analysis will influence future discussions or merely serve as another chapter of what could have been remains to be seen. The map's emergence questions the resilience of the peace process and the formidable challenges still facing those advocating for resolution.