The conflict between Palestinian Arabs and Jews began in the early 20th century, primarily centered around land. Palestinians, including Muslims, Christians, and Druze, have different religious beliefs compared to Jews. However, religion is not the primary cause of this disagreement. The region was historically known as Palestine until 1948 when it was divided into Israel, the West Bank of the Jordan River, and the Gaza Strip. Jewish individuals argue for their rights to this land based on biblical promises made to Abraham, its historical importance as the Jewish kingdom of Israel, and its significance as a refuge from European anti-Semitism. In contrast, Palestinian Arabs assert their claim based on centuries-long residency and demographic majority within the area. They refuse to give up their land as compensation for crimes committed against Jews in Europe.
In the 19th century, people worldwide sought national rights, including the right to self-rule. This trend followed a pattern that had started in Europe. Both Jews and Palestinians developed a sense of national identity and worked towards national objectives. As Jews were scattered across the globe, they aimed to gather in one place through immigration and settlement. This movement, known as Zionism, designated Palestine as the ideal location due to its historical connection to Judaism.
Zionist activity commenced in 1882 when the first wave of European Jewish immigrants arrived in Palestine. At the turn of the 20th century, the majority of Jews in Palestine resided in Jerusalem, Hebron, Safad, and Tiberias – cities with religious significance. These individuals primarily adhered to orthodox religious practices and viewed their bond with the land as religious rather than nationalistic.
Consequently, they did not actively support or engage in the Zionist movement initiated and brought to Palestine by European immigrants. Most of the Jewish immigrants from Europe pursued a more secular way of life and were committed to establishing a Jewish nation and constructing a modern independent state.
During the early 20th century, Palestine became a disputed area with competing territorial claims and political interests. The weakening Ottoman Empire allowed European powers to strengthen their control in the eastern Mediterranean, including Palestine. In 1917, Lord Arthur Balfour issued the Balfour Declaration declaring support for a Jewish national home in Palestine. This led Britain to obtain a mandate over Israel, the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Jordan. In 1921, the British divided the region into Transjordan in the east and the Palestine Mandate in the west, marking the first time Palestine was politically unified. However, Arabs were outraged by Britain’s failure to create an independent Arab state and were concerned about their promise of supporting a Jewish national home. The increasing Jewish immigration and settlements sparked resistance from Palestinian Arabs who feared it would lead to establishing a Jewish state. They opposed the British Mandate as it hindered their desire for self-governance while posing a threat due to significant influx of Jewish immigrants. Following World War II, Britain appealed to the United Nations for assistance in deciding Palestine’s future.
According to a comprehensive investigation, it was determined that the division of the country was required in order to accommodate the needs and desires of both Jewish and Palestinian Arab populations. From a legal standpoint, Jews had obtained roughly 6 to 8 percent of Palestine’s overall land area, which equated to about 20 percent of its cultivable land (7).
The United Nations partition plan effectively divided the country with each state being allocated a majority of its respective population. However, there were Jewish settlements in the proposed Palestinian state and Palestinians living in the proposed Jewish state. The Zionist leadership accepted the plan but sought to enlarge the borders of the Jewish state. On the other hand, Palestinian Arabs as well as neighboring Arab states rejected it.
Following the adoption of the UN partition plan, armed conflict broke out between the Arab and Jewish populations in Palestine. The Arab military forces lacked organization, training, and equipment, while the Zionist military forces were smaller but highly organized, trained, and armed. On May 15, 1948, Zionist leaders officially declared Israel as a state. Shortly after, neighboring Arab countries (Egypt, Syria Jordan, and Iraq) launched invasions into Israel with the aim of “saving” Palestine from the Zionists. The war ended in 1949 (8), resulting in the division of former Palestine into three parts: Israel,
territories controlled by Egypt,
and areas controlled by Jordan.
The conflict in Palestine/Israel from 1947 to 1949 led to the displacement of many Arabs, transforming them into refugees (9). Palestinians living in Arab countries often suffer from disadvantages compared to native citizens. On the other hand, Palestinian Arabs who remained in the area that later became Israel were granted Israeli citizenship and voting rights. Nevertheless, they still encounter discrimination and are regarded as second-class citizens (9).
The 1967 war, which lasted only six days, established Israel as the dominant regional military power (10), leading to the active involvement of the Palestinian national movement. This participation gave rise to various political and military groups that ultimately formed the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) (11). Israel’s victory over Egypt, Syria, and Jordan’s armies allowed them to occupy several territories, including the West Bank from Jordan, Gaza Strip and Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, and Golan Heights from Syria. To govern these areas’ Palestinian population, Israel set up a military administration. Consequently, Palestinians faced severe restrictions on their basic political rights and civil liberties due to strict regulations impacting all aspects of their lives.
The UN partition plan suggested that Jerusalem would become an international zone, distinct from the Jewish and Palestinian Arab states (7). In the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Israel gained control of the western part of Jerusalem, while Jordan controlled the eastern part (8). Nevertheless, during the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel took over East Jerusalem from Jordan and integrated it into its territory (10).
In the meantime, to handle Palestinian nationalism, the Arab League established the PLO in 1964 (11). However, despite this development, Israel declined to negotiate with the PLO as it was labeled a terrorist organization. Instead of supporting the establishment of a Palestinian state, Israel insisted on assimilating Palestinians into existing Arab states.
The UN Security Council passed Resolution 242 after the 1967 war. This resolution urges Israel to withdraw from the territories it took during the conflict and encourages peaceful coexistence among all regional states with secure and recognized borders (12). However, Palestinians have consistently rejected Resolution 242 as it fails to acknowledge their right to national self-determination or their right of return to their ancestral land. The primary aim of this resolution is solely focused on resolving the refugee issue fairly.
In late 1970, President Anwar Sadat of Egypt took leadership and expressed his desire to sign a peace agreement with Israel as long as Egyptian territory was returned. However, both Israel and the US did not acknowledge this proposal. As a result, Egypt and Syria decided to take action in order to break the political deadlock.
During Yom Kippur in October 1973, an important Jewish holy day, Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israeli forces in the Sinai Peninsula and Golan Heights. This unexpected assault caught Israel off guard.
Sadat and Prime Minister Menachem Begin were invited by President Jimmy Carter to Camp David in September 1978. At the retreat in Maryland, they successfully established two agreements: a peace framework between Egypt and Israel, and an agreement addressing the Middle East crisis, specifically the Palestinian question.
However, only the Egyptian-Israeli portion of the Camp David accords was implemented. Despite this, Israel hindered progress by seizing Palestinian territories and constructing new settlements, which violated the promises made to Jimmy Carter by Menachem Begin at Camp David.
The intifada, which began in December 1987, was a major uprising by the Palestinian population in the West Bank and Gaza against Israeli occupation. During this mobilization, existing organizations and institutions under occupation were utilized, and various forms of civil disobedience such as demonstrations, strikes, tax refusal, and boycotts were employed. The suffering of Palestinians in these areas gained significant global attention due to this resistance. Although the intifada did not bring an end to the occupation, activists demanded a clear political program from the PLO for their fight for independence. In response to these demands, the Palestine National Council announced an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip while denouncing terrorism.
After the Gulf War, the United States wanted to stabilize its position in the Middle East by addressing the Arab-Israeli conflict. President Bush’s administration urged Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir to negotiate with Palestinians and Arab states at a conference in Madrid, Spain in October 1991. It is worth noting that these talks did not include the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). In June 1992, power shifted to Yitzhak Rabin’s new Israeli Labor Party government and negotiations in Washington stopped. Under Rabin’s leadership, human rights conditions worsened in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip. This lack of progress in Washington, combined with deteriorating economic and human rights situations within these territories, led radical Islamist groups to oppose the PLO more strongly. Tensions increased due to violent attacks on Israeli targets carried out by HAMAS (Islamic Resistance Movement) and Islamic Jihad.
Israel initiated secret negotiations in Oslo, Norway with PLO representatives, who were previously excluded from talks in Madrid and Washington. These negotiations led to the Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles, which acknowledged mutual recognition and outlined a five-year plan for Israel’s gradual withdrawal from Gaza Strip and Jericho. However, throughout the Oslo process, Israeli governments continued to construct new settlements, expand existing ones, and establish secure bypass roads in the occupied territories. Palestinians interpreted these actions as indication that Israel aimed to annex these areas in the final settlement. Regrettably, the Oslo accords lacked provisions to prevent or address Israel’s violations of Palestinian human and civil rights under its control. Consequently, Palestinians’ expectations were not fulfilled by the Oslo accords.
President Clinton invited Prime Minister Barak and President Arafat to Camp David in July 2000 for negotiations on the final status agreement (16), but their differences hindered any agreement. Despite proposing a larger Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank, Barak aimed to retain Israeli control over East Jerusalem, which was unacceptable to Palestinians and many Muslims globally. Consequently, both Arafat and Barak departed Camp David dissatisfied and without achieving any outcomes.
The flawed Oslo peace process, combined with the daily frustrations and humiliations experienced by Palestinians in the occupied territories, led to the start of the second intifada in late September 2000. Likud leader Ariel Sharon’s visit to the Noble Sanctuary, accompanied by a thousand armed guards, sparked significant Palestinian protests in Jerusalem. Consequently, Israeli soldiers killed six unarmed protesters during these demonstrations. This event triggered a month-long period of protests and clashes across the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The second intifada proved to be bloodier than its predecessor and seemed never-ending. Resolving this conflict, particularly regarding land issues, is a complex and dangerous puzzle with global ramifications. The situation in the Middle East is especially fragile as it has the potential to ignite another world war. However, through negotiations and diplomatic relations, any conflict can be resolved.
In my opinion, Israel should ease its control over the occupied territories and relax strict regulations. Instead of persisting on a path of perpetual warfare, it is suggested that Israel engage in negotiations with Palestine instead.The author asserts that despite the difficulties of letting go of pride and strong opinions, choosing peace is ultimately a better and safer choice.
The article by Barry Rubin in the Middle East Review of International Affairs supports this perspective.
The book “World Politics: Trend and Transformation” is authored by Charles W. Kegley and Eugene R. Wittkopf, published by St.Martin’s Press in New York in 1998. This 5th edition of the book spans across 193 pages.
The book “Comparative Politics Today” by Almond, Gabriel A. and Bingham G. Powell, Jr. was published in 1992 by Harper Collins Publishers in its fifth edition.
4. Sacher, H. The Atlantic Monthly. “A Jewish Palestine” pages 115-125. July 1919.
The Balfour Declaration is available on the MidEast Web website, dating back to 1999.
The website <http://www.mideastweb.org/mebalfour.htm>
The historical document “The Palestine Mandate of the League of Nations 1922” was published in 1999 by MidEast Web Historical Documents. It is available for access at http://www.mideastweb.org/mebalfour.htm.
The citation for the historical document “United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181: The UN Partition Plan of 1947” from MidEast Web can be found at http://www.mideastweb.org/181.htm.
8. NBCi offers details about the Arab-Israeli wars. You can find more information by visiting http://members.nbci.com/palestine99/war.htm.
9. Dr. Hassassian, Manuel. Palestinian National Authority.”Historical Justice and Compensation for Palestinian Refugees”
<http: historical_justice_.htm=” peace=” www.pna.net=”>.
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10. The Israeli Occupation of Jerusalem. Retrieved from http://www.pna.net/jerusalem/jerusalem_occupation_moi.htm.
11. The Palestinian National Authority provides information on the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). Visit their website at http://www.pna.net/plo/pal_plo_1.htm.
12. The website “MidEast Web Historical Documents” provides the U.N. Security Council Resolution 242, which was issued on November 22, 1967 (source).
On March 28, 2001, Yale Law School provided information regarding the Camp David Accords that took place on September 17, 1978.
The link to the website is http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/mideast/campdav.htm.The source is an article by Donald Neff titled “The Intifada Erupts, Forcing Israel to Recognize Palestinians.” It was published in the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs in December 1997. The article can be found on the website http://www.washington-report.org/backissues/1297/9712081.html.
15. The Oslo Declaration of Principles was created in 1999 and is available on the MidEast Web Historical Documents website: http://www.mideastweb.org/meoslodop.htm.
16. The Israeli Camp David II Proposals for Final Settlement in July 2000 can be found on the MidEast Web Historical Documents website from 1999: http://www.mideastweb.org/CampDavid2.htm.
17. The Palestinian National Authority provides information on the Israeli occupation of Jerusalem. You can find more details at http://www.pna.net/jerusalem/jerusalem_occupation_moi.htm.
