The Israel-Palestine conflict is one of the persisting and oldest conflicts that has taken place in the world. Both now and then the situation is escalating to deadly heights such that it is causing destruction and deaths in many regions. But how did this Israel-Palestine conflict start and what has led it to become one of the most deadly wars in the world? To understand more about the current situation in the Israel-Palestine conflict here is everything you need to know.
Historical Background
To understand the long-lasting Israel-Palestine conflict we will initially have to go back on the place and people who were associated with it. Although the present conflict has arisen from the 20th century, a brief background of the region which relates to ancient history will help understand the historical and religious significance of the place especially with respect to the chief stakeholders in the Israel-Palestine conflict.
It was in 1947 that the United Nations adopted Resolution 181 which was also known as the Partition Plan. In May 1948, the state of Israel was created which sparked the first Arab-Israeli War. The war ended with Israel winning however over 750,000 Palestinians were displaced and the entire area was divided into three parts – the state of Israel, the west bank of the Jordan River, and the Gaza Strip.
Over the upcoming years, tension continuously rose in the region, especially between Egypt, Israel, Syria, and Jordan. Following the 1956 Suez Crisis and Israel’s invasion of the Sinai Peninsula, Jordan, Egypt, and Syria signed the mutual defense pacts which was in anticipation of a possible mobilization of Israeli troops.
The Creation of Israel
It was in May 1948 that Israel was declared to be an independent state with its prime minister as David Ben Gurion. Following this announcement, in 1948, the Arab-Israeli war broke out with almost five Arab states, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan, invading Israel. A ceasefire was then announced in 1949, and as part of the agreement, the West Bank was given to Jordan, and the Gaza Strip then became a prominent part of Egypt. Israel having won the war controlled a lot more areas than they would have under the UN plan. East Jerusalem was under the control of Jordan.
Over 750,000 Palestinians fled the region and became refugees in the neighbouring Arab regions. The Palestinians call this war Nakba or catastrophe as they became stateless. Tension began rising again in the year 1956 when Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal. This then led to the Suez crisis. Israel then attacked the Sinai Peninsula and retook the canal with the support of the French and British.
Major Conflicts and Wars
In 1967, Israel made a preventative strike against Syria and Egypt while launching the Six-Day War, Israel captured the Arab East Jerusalem and West Bank from Jordan the Golan Heights from Syria, and the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip from Egypt. Gaza’s population during that year was considered to be about 394,000 where at least 60 percent of them were Palestinian refugees and their descendants.
Following this, in 1973, the Egyptians and Syrians forced a surprise attack on Israeli positions along the Golan Heights and Suez Canal, touching off the Yom Kippur War; Israel, however, defeated both of these armies just within three weeks.
Israel then invaded Lebanon in 1982 where thousands of Palestine Liberation Organization fighters under Yasser Arafat were helped to escape by sea after a 10-week stoppage. Israeli troops then pulled out of Lebanon in 2000.
In 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew all the soldiers and settlers from Gaza. Hamas won the parliamentary election in 2006 and caught full control of Gaza in 2007. Gaza saw some of the major fights between Palestinian militants and Israel in 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014, and 2021. Since then, there have been several rounds of wars between Israel and Hamas; Hamas says that its armed activities are just a part of the resistance against the Israeli occupation.
Peace Efforts and Agreements
In the year 1979, Egypt was the first Arab state who sign a peace treaty with Israel which stated that they agreed to return the Sinai Peninsula to Egyptian Rule. In 1993, Israeli, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO leader Arafat shook hands on the Oslo Accord which limited Palestinian autonomy. In 1994, Israel signed a peace treaty with Jordan.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, US President Bill Clinton, and Arafat took part in the Camp David summit, which was held in the year 2000; however, they failed to reach a final peace deal. In 2002, a proposed Arab League plan then offered Israel normal relations with all Arab countries on the condition for a full withdrawal from all the Middle Eastern countries it took over. The presentation of the plan was overshadowed by Hamas, which then blew up an Israeli hotel full of Holocaust survivors during the Passover seder meal. Since 2014, the Palestinian-Israeli peace efforts have come to a stop.
Palestinians also stopped dealing with the US administration after Trump broke with decades of US policy by recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The Palestinians now seek East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.
Key Issues in the Conflict
There are 4 key issues in the conflict which has led to this extent of the Israel-Palestine conflict. They can be provided as follows:
- Settlements – Most countries consider the Jewish settlements on the land of Israel in 1967 to be illegal. Israel, however, denies this and cites historical and biblical references to the land. Continued settlements are surely one of the issues leading to this huge Israel-Palestine conflict.
- The two-state solution – An agreement that would create a state for the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and West Bank alongside Israel.
- Jerusalem – Palestinian wants East Jerusalem, which includes Old City’s Wall, which is a sacred site for Christians, Jews, and Muslims alike, to be the capital. However, Israel says that it should remain as the eternal and indivisible capital.
- Refugees – There are almost 5.6 million Palestinian refugees, especially descendants of those who fled in the year 1948 that live in Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. About half of these refugees are still stateless and mainly live in crowded camps.
Current Situation
Well, according to the current situation, Hamas are ruling over Gaza. Gaza’s borders are very securely controlled by Egypt and Israel. The West Bank is still occupied by Israel. Most Palestinian refugees and their descendants are currently living in Syria, Lebanon, and East Jordan. Tensions are quite high between Palestinians and Israel living in Gaza, East Jerusalem, and West Bank. According to Israel, if they allow Palestinians to return to their homes, then there would be a threat to their existence as a Jewish state. Though Israel does not believe that Palestine is a state, almost 135 UN member countries believe do.
Humanitarian Impact
The Gaza situation is rather dire. Heavy bombardments by Israel are placing a lot of people’s lives at risk. As of the 12th of October, the air strikes have displaced almost 423,000 people who weren’t allowed to leave the territory. Almost 2,450 housing units have become uninhabitable, with an additional 22,850 households sustaining major damage. Between the dates of the 7th to 12th of October, Israeli forces killed about 33 Palestinians, including three children, near the West Bank. They also injured around 500 Palestinians, including 62 children, in this period. The majority of injuries and fatalities occurred in the clashes between protests and Gaza.
Future Prospects
While the future of the Israel-Palestine conflict still remains highly uncertain there have been a lot of efforts taken internationally to change the conditions. There are also quite a lot of obstacles that are arising which is taking people away from the aim of peace. Recent shifts however on both sides in terms of internal politics and regional alliances could actually influence the dynamics and address major issues. Renewed negotiations could also be possible if there is increased international pressure and diplomatic initiatives being taken.
Conclusion
Although there are still a lot of rumours regarding implementing the two-state solution to resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict, there has been no progress toward an agreement. The prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, has also claimed that under no circumstance will they accept a Palestinian state. The killing by Hamas of about 2,000 plus people has also led to devastation among people. While even now there is no final call on what is about to happen, one can only hope for the best to come out.
FAQ
What is the Israel-Palestine conflict in simple terms?
The dispute is regarding a specific area of land that both the Palestinians and Israelis could claim as their right. Many attempts were made to accept a two-state solution, however, to no avail.
When did the Israel-Palestine war start?
The Israel-Palestine war actually started way back in the year 1948 when Israel had declared its independence.
What is Israel’s relationship with Palestine?
The relationship between both Israel and Palestine is political and all of the conflict is a political conflict. The conflict is also about whether or not Palestinians should be able to create their own country with a part of the land mainly controlled by Israel.
Does Palestine accept Israel?
While Israel does not accept Palestine, Palestine, on the other hand, does recognize Israel as a part of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
