Once again, tensions between Palestine and Israel have escalated to violent military actions. Although these attacks happen all the time, only a few manage to catch International attention. At this moment, an attack directed by the Palestinian group Hamas on Israel made the latter declare a state of war. But what’s the core of the conflict, why has it lasted for so long? Let’s delve into that.
Zionism and the Origin of the Conflict
Unlike what many think, the conflict between Israel and Palestine doesn’t really date to Ancient times. This complex and long-standing conflict in the world has its roots in the late 19th century when the Zionist movement began advocating for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
At the time, Palestine was part of the Ottoman Empire and was home to a majority Arab population. In 1878, Muslims represented 80% of the population, 10% were Christians, and only 3% were Jewish. The 19th century, as you might remember from your history lessons, was pretty much a time of Nationalism in Europe, and many nations of the country started founding their national beliefs; this was spread through their colonies.
The Habsburg Empire was weakening and at least 10 groups wanted to become a state of their own enter Theodore Herzl, a Hungarian Jewish journalist who founded modern Zionism. As it was happening in the Empire, Herzl was convinced that the Jewish people needed a country of their own so Zionism became a sort of a Jewish Nationalist movement responding to a growing antisemitism in Europe.
During WWI, the French and the Brits agreed on a division of the territory. France would get Syria and Lebanon, while Great Britain would keep Palestine and part of Egypt and Sudan. Great Britain had also agreed with Sharif Hussein, ruler of Mecca, that he would rule over the Arab state with the help of the Brits if they united to defeat the Ottoman Empire.
In 1917, the British government issued the Balfour Declaration, which expressed support for the establishment of a Jewish national home in Palestine. This declaration was controversial, and it led to increased tensions between Jews and Arabs in the region. This happened mainly because the Brits didn’t ask anyone their opinion on the matter, especially the Palestinians who had been in the area for centuries.
So, recap. In only three years, Britain had promised Palestine to three different groups, the Meccans, the Jews, and themselves. By the end of WWI, Britain installed a colony in Palestine; like most colonies, they claimed that they would rule until the Palestinians were ready to rule themselves. When? Whenever they see fit. For the upcoming years, the territory was divided into two separate institutions the Christians and the Jews in one group and the Muslims in another.
First Wave of Immigration
Between 1920 and 1939, antisemitism in Europe grew to unprecedented levels, and Jewish people from all over the continent started pressuring to make the Balfour Declaration fulfill its promise. During these years, the Jewish population in the land increased by over 320,000 people. By 1938, they represented 30% of the population in Palestine.
However, division and tensions started to increase. The Jewish population started to buy land from non-Palestinian owners who simply decided to evict the farmers of their lands to sell them to their new tenants. While the Jewish immigrants found all sorts of access to settle in this territory, the local Muslims were slowly relocated and deprived of their land. This made the Palestinians think about forming their own nation as well.
In 1936, the Palestinians revolted against the Brits. The Jewish community supported Great Britain as they had helped them settle, and the revolt was rapidly suppressed. However, as a result, and wanting to prevent another conflict, Britain edited a document limiting the immigration of Jewish people to Palestine and calling for a joint Arab and Jewish state within 10 years.
As you can imagine, none of the parts were happy with this resolution. On the one hand, the Jewish settlers were angry about the limitation, mainly due to the persecution of their people in Europe who urgently needed to escape. On the other hand, Muslims didn’t want to wait for 10 years to stop being a colony and become a state.
The Birth of a New State and en Era of Conflict
By the end of WWII, tensions between both groups resumed and Britain was dealing with a lot back home so they decided to hand over the issue to the newly-created United Nations. In 1947, the United Nations voted to partition Palestine into two states, one Jewish and one Arab. The Jewish community accepted the plan, but the Arab community rejected it. This led to a civil war, which resulted in the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced during the Arab-Israeli War, and many of them remain refugees to this day. The war also left a legacy of bitterness and mistrust between Israelis and Palestinians. In the years since 1948, there have been several wars and uprisings between Israel and Palestine.
In 1967, amid the Six-Day War, Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights from Syria. This represented even more territory than the initial Palestinian Nation suggested by the UN. Since then, Israel has built settlements in the West Bank, which Palestinians see as a violation of their rights.
The Resolution 242 of the UN asked Israel to withdraw from the acquired territory and called for both parties to recognize the rights of a Palestinian and Israeli state. The Resolution was not accepted by any of the parties. Palestine asked for the recognition of the identity of those who were born and lived in Palestine regardless of their faith, which wasn’t accepted either.
Three years before the war and Israel’s appropriation of the land, the Palestinian Liberation Organization was formed. Led by Yasser Arafat, considered the “sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian People,” the PLO originally aimed for a non-violent approach to the liberation of their land and people. Eventually, they formed guerrilla groups willing to retaliate.
As tensions continued, and Israel established settlements in Palestinian territory, which by the way are considered illegal by international laws, the Palestinians managed to arm themselves having constant attacks between both sides.
The First Intifada and Hamas
By the 1980s, the conflict remained and the Palestinians decided to launch the first Intifada (shake-off). The plan was to boycott Israeli products and services, refuse to pay taxes to Israel, and a wave of protests. The Israeli army, aided by world powers like the United States, was determined to stop the Intifada, and violence ensued.
This saw the birth of Hamas, the group that everybody is talking about today. Hamas was founded in 1987 during the First Intifada, a Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation. Hamas’s charter calls for the destruction of Israel and the establishment of an Islamic state in all of Palestine. The group gained popularity due to its social welfare as well. They aimed to create schools, mosques, and clinics in occupied Palestine.
Useless Talks of Peace and the Current Situation
In 1993, Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) signed the Oslo Accords, which were an attempt to resolve the conflict. The agreements established a Palestinian Authority (PA), which was to govern the West Bank and Gaza Strip. However, the Oslo Accords were never fully implemented, among the most important ending the illegal Israeli settlements and the Palestinian rights for refugees and their descendants to return to their home country.
In recent years, there has been a rise in violence between Israelis and Palestinians. This violence has been fueled by several factors, including the continued Israeli occupation of the West Bank, the Palestinian blockade of the Gaza Strip, and the failure of the Oslo peace process.
In 2000, Ariel Sharon, Israel’s prime minister, led a group of 1,000 armed guards to the Temple Mount in the heart of Jerusalem. This sparked a massive protest known as the Second Intifada. In 2002, Israel started the construction of a wall surrounding the West Bank. This didn’t follow the borders established and included territory taken by the Israeli settlements, thus illegally occupying even more territory and displacing more Palestinians.
In recent times, Israel has kept launching constant attacks on Palestine and Hamas has retaliated. Israel has met these attacks with even more violence and invasions, all supported by the ‘International community.’ As of now, Palestine is divided into two groups, Hamas with a more aggressive message and action, and the Palestinian Authority, which wants to solve the issue more diplomatically. Despite opposing themselves, both groups want the liberation of Palestine from the Israeli occupation.
All violence should be condemned, but we also have to see the entire picture. It’s not fortuitous that the only attacks that get international coverage are the ones launched by Hamas or Palestine. At the end of the day, this is a story of colonialism and occupation.
