Two stars for peace: "every newly stitched American flag will declare that peace has been achieved by embracing Israelis and Palestinians as American citizens, and by welcoming their lands as unique--and equal--states.".

• Author: Rothblatt, Martine
• Position: Satire

THE AMERICAN FLAG contains 50 stars. It has changed 26 times since 1777, when it officially was adopted with 13 stars. The principal always has been the same--add one star to the flag each time a state joins the Union. No star is larger or differently colored, or preferentially positioned than any other. This reflects the commitment to equality for each. To that end, Israel and Palestine should be invited to join the U.S. This huge logistical effort is a small price to pay for the honor of welcoming the Holy Land into the fold. Every newly stitched American flag will declare that peace has been achieved by embracing Israelis and Palestinians as American citizens, and by welcoming their lands as unique--and equal--states.

It has been 44 years since the U.S. flag was modified to accommodate the admission of Hawaii. An even longer 47 years transpired between the joining of New Mexico in 1912 and Alaska in 1959. The time is ripe to admit two stars for peace. The U.S. is a one-of-a-kind country. No other land is comprised of numerous unique territories that voluntarily elect to forego their own sovereignty in favor of being a part of America. This political innovation prevented much potential violent conflict amongst the many different peoples who settled the American frontier. The one time that two different sovereignties did try to stand on the same land, the Civil War was the result. More Americans died in that conflict than from all other wars combined.

Is not the situation of Israel and Palestine like that of the North and South? Are not the constant battles between Israelis and Palestinians essentially a civil war? While this situation cannot be placated within a United States of the Middle East--for no such entity exists--it can be resolved by adding Israeli and Palestinian states to a slightly enlarged U.S. The Founding Fathers foresaw the benefits of growing the country by voluntary association. Hence, Article IV, Section III of the Constitution states that "Congress may add additional states to the Union by majority vote."

Israel and Palestine can become American states by having their duly elected representatives send a Petition for Statehood to Congress while an Invitation of Statehood can be sent to Israel and Palestine, Congress should grant a warm welcome, in the form of a Joint Resolution specifying key conditions and guarantees, because doing so solves the U.S.'s most intractable foreign affairs dilemma.

With a few strokes of...