Historical Roots of the Conflict
The longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict is marked by Israeli demands for security in a region it has historically viewed as antagonistic and Palestinian aspirations for their own sovereign state.
The modern State of Israel was proclaimed by its founding father, David Ben-Gurion, on May 14, 1948, aiming to provide a refuge for Jews escaping persecution. While the establishment of Israel was celebrated by many Jews, Palestinians remember this event as the Nakba or “catastrophe,” citing their dispossession and the hindrance of their statehood ambitions.
The subsequent war led to approximately 700,000 Palestinians — half of the Arab population under British-ruled Palestine — fleeing or being expelled from their homes. These individuals sought refuge in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. It’s essential to note that Israel challenges claims that they forcefully displaced Palestinians and emphasizes their defense against five attacking Arab states shortly after Israel’s declaration. By 1949, fighting ceased through armistice agreements, but no formal peace was established. Arabs who remained in Israel during the war currently represent about 20% of Israel’s population, known as the Arab Israeli community.
Key Wars & Uprisings Post-1948
- Six-Day War (1967): Initiated by Israel’s pre-emptive strikes against Egypt and Syria. Following this war, Israel occupied the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Syria’s Golan Heights.
- Yom Kippur War (1973): Egypt and Syria launched attacks on Israeli positions. Israel managed to repel both within three weeks.
- Lebanon Incursions (1982 & 2006): In 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon, leading to the evacuation of thousands of Palestinian fighters. A conflict erupted again in 2006 between Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
- Gaza Clashes: Since Israel’s 2005 exit from Gaza, the region witnessed significant escalations in 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014, and 2021.
- Palestinian Intifadas: Two significant uprisings against Israeli rule occurred between 1987-1993 and 2000-2005, the latter marked by a series of Hamas-led suicide bombings targeting Israelis.
Peace Initiatives
- 1979: Egypt and Israel solidified their commitment to peace through a treaty.
- 1993: The Oslo Accords were signed, introducing limited Palestinian autonomy.
- 1994: Israel and Jordan entered into a peace treaty.
- 2000’s Camp David Summit: A gathering involving U.S. President Bill Clinton, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and Yasser Arafat did not yield a final peace deal.
- 2002 Arab Plan: Arab nations proposed normal relations with Israel in exchange for its complete withdrawal from territories seized in the 1967 war and the establishment of a Palestinian state. This plan also sought a “just solution” for Palestinian refugees.
However, peace efforts suffered a setback in 2014, with failed talks between the two parties. The situation further deteriorated when the Trump administration did not support the two-state solution, a peace framework that envisaged a Palestinian state in territories occupied by Israel in 1967.
Current Peace Endeavours:
Under the Biden administration, the U.S. aims for a “grand bargain” in the Middle East, notably the normalisation of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. However, recent warfare presents diplomatic challenges for Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations, some of which have recently formalised peace agreements with Israel.
Core Issues of the Israeli-Palestinian Dispute:
- Two-State Solution: A proposal to establish a Palestinian state alongside Israel. Hamas opposes this solution and calls for Israel’s destruction, while Israel insists on a demilitarised Palestinian state.
- Settlements: Most nations view Jewish settlements on lands occupied in 1967 as illegal. However, Israel disputes this, referencing historical and Biblical ties.
- Jerusalem: Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as their capital, a notion Israel rejects. The U.S., under Trump, recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in 2018 without clarifying its extent.
- Refugees: Roughly 5.6 million Palestinian refugees and their descendants live across the Middle East. Palestinians demand their right to return, but Israel asserts that any resettlement should occur outside its borders.
Sources: Reuters, BBC, Al Jazeera, AP, New York Times.
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