The Third Option refers to a strategy of economic interdependence to resolve land use conflicts between Indigenous nations and settler nations across the modern world. Canada has been leading the way in this area through the use of Comprehensive Land Claims Agreements, sometimes referred to as “Modern Treaties“. In areas of the country where this has occurred, land claim agreements have been negotiated between individual First Nations and the Federal, Provincial and Territorial governments. In regions where these unceded ancestral lands are in close proximity to densely populated urban areas, the Indigenous ownership has negotiated long term (100 years or more) land lease agreements with the business community. This has led to a win-win situation for everyone as it provides valuable land for social and economic development within the broader community while providing much needed jobs and a flowering sense of business expertise and education within the indigenous community. With these cooperative arrangements, the indigenous community monetizes the value of their ancestral lands while maintaining full ownership and control. The result is a dynamic interdependent economic relationship that is designed to mutually benefit generations in the future and to gradually instill a growing sense of mutual trust and mutual respect between the two communities. Everyone has “Skin in the Game”.

Within Palestine the thorny question remains as to “Who are the indigenous people?” with both sides sighting evidence for their claim. However the land boundaries established by the 1948 UN declaration of Israel and Palestine are a good reference point. The Sumeria/Judea settlements are in the Palestinian West Bank and would be the obvious location to initiate the discussion. There is no space here for negotiated details other than to say that all lease revenues would be under joint and international oversight and all funds would be earmarked toward building institutions and infrastructure for a thriving, independent, democratic Palestinian State and a trusted self-reliant neighbor for Israel.