Israel - Palestine Conflict
Introduction
The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict is the ongoing struggle between Israelis and Palestinians that began in the mid-20th century.This conflict is one of the most highly publicized and bitter struggles of modern times. Although the two groups have different regions, religious differences were not the cause of the strife. The conflict began as a struggle over land.
For the Palestinians the last 100 years have brought colonization, expulsion and military occupation, followed by a long and difficult search for self- determination and for coexistence with the nation they hold responsible for their suffering and loss.
Background
By the end of 1800s, a political movement, Zionism was established to address the increasing persecution and anti-Semitism in Europe. The biblical Promised Land led them to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine, in the Middle East.The British Empire controlled Palestine in the period 1920 to 1947.
At that time, Palestine included all of Israel and today’s Occupied
Territories, of Gaza, West Back etc. The increasing number of Jewish people immigrating to the “Holy Land” increased tensions in the region.
The European Jews emigrated to Palestine in large numbers following World War I. However, the Arab inhabitants of the Palestine opposed the creation of Jewish state in their homeland. As a result, violent conflicts broke out in Palestine between Arabs and Jews during the Zionist Movement.
Britain sought to resolve the issue and sent the issue to the United
Nations. The U.N partitioned the British-controlled Palestine into Arab and Jewish states. The Jews accepted the partition plan and were happy about it since they received 55% of land even though they had only 34% of the population. On the other hand, Palestinians rejected it outright and all Islamic countries voted against it. However, the world supported it because they felt bad about the holocaust. Finally, on May 15, 1948 – Israel declared itself an independent state.
Early Conflicts
Israel’s declaration of an independent state led to the first ArabIsraeli War in 1948, in which it was attacked by five Arab countries:• Egypt
• Syria
• Jordan
• Iraq
• Lebanon
The Result of the war was that Israel defeated the combined Arab countries and seized territory UN had designated for the Palestinians. The Cease-fire agreement ended fighting, but Arabs refused to sign the peace treaty. Moreover, no Arab country recognized Israel. 750,000 Palestinian refugees fled to Arab states.
In 1967, Israel launched airstrikes on Egypt, Jordan and Syria in response to build up of Arab armies along its border. It Captures the Golan heights, Gaza strip and West Bank backed by west. The peace was restored by the ‘Land for peace’ formula adopted by
U.N.
In 1987, the first Intifada (Uprising) began with violence, riots, general strikes and civil disobedience campaigns by Palestinians, which was responded by Israel’s military by live ammunition claiming the lives of over 20,000 people on both sides. The aim of the Intifada was a complete with drawl of Israel from territories it occupied in 1967, lifting of curfews and checkpoints, and the establishment of Palestine state on West bank and Gaza Strip.
The Second Intifada (Uprising) 2000-2005 was caused due to failure of Oslo process in creating right conditions for an independent Palestine state. The consequences of it included:
• Construction of Israeli West Bank barrier • Decrease of violence in West Bank.
• Israeli withdrawl from Gaza Strip.
• Formation of Hamas Group.
Current Conflict
The Gaza Conflict started in 2005 and lasts to this day. Gaza came under the control of a radical group called Hamas democratically, which resulted in complete halt of aids and revenues from west as Hamas doesn’t accept Israel’s existence. As a result, Israel imposed a complete blockade on Gaza, not allowing any transfer of food, water, electricity etc. Furthermore, the increased cross-border firing lead to a human catastrophe.In 2008, Gaza War took place when Israel launched a large military campaign with a stated aim of stopping Hamas rocket attacks and arms smuggling into Gaza. The conflict was also called the Gaza massacre in the Arab world as it led to the deaths of 1400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis.
In 2012, Israel launched Operation Pillar Defense by killing Hamas leader due to increased rocket firing.
In 2014, Israel’s military launched Operation Protective Edge, in response to Hamas rocket attacks. Israel troops entered the Gaza Strip. More than 2100 Palestinians were killed after Israel intensified its bombardment of Gaza.
Reasons for Continued Conflict
The key issues for Continued Conflict between both sides are:• Religion
The first and the foremost reason for the continued conflict is that the two sides have different religions, namely Islam and Judaism. They both have places of immense religious importance in the region and hence is always a cause of provocation and rise of tensions.• Border Security
Israel wants to insure its border security, due to rise of Palestinian attacks, while Palestinians always have to remain cautioned at all times, since the Israel’s military can step in any time, without warning.• Water Rights
One of the main sources of water in the region is the West Bank’s mountain aquifer. Israel takes 80% of this water, leaving only 20% for the Palestinian, causing heated arguments about the rights of water in the arid region, where water is among the most valuable resources.• Control of Jerusalem
Jerusalem contains the Mosque Al-Aqsa, which holds immense importance for the Muslims. Moreover, the Temple of Mount that holds immense importance for the Jews is also in the Jerusalem. This has resulted in continued conflict in the City.• Land Rights
The two sides lay claim to the same territory, resulting in deepening of the conflict. Moreover, the occupation of land in previous wars by Israel and build up of Jewish settlements out of its legal territory raises further tensions.• Legalities concerning refugees
There are about 3.5 million Palestinian refugees that want to return to their homeland, however Israel cannot allow them, thus sparking a refugee crisis.Wants and Interests
Palestine:
• A halt to the construction of Israeli settlements on land beyond the 1967 borders.• Negotiated borders based on the 1967 boundaries.
• Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine.
• The release of all Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, including those convicted of acts of terror.
• The recognition of a right of return for all Palestinians living in the diaspora.
• A series of smaller, specific issues, such as permission to build an airport in the Ramallah district and the right to issue visas as part of a tourism initiative.
Israel:
• Sovereignty over Jerusalem, including the Old City.• Negotiated borders based on the 1967 boundaries, with land swaps taking into account the major West Bank settlement blocs.
• Recognition of Israel as a Jewish state.
• A demilitarized State of Palestine.
• Right of return for Palestinian refugees only to Palestine, not to Israel.
• An assortment of other smaller issues, such as no unilateral moves.
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