Israeli – Palestinian Conflict
Note = This essay provides a brief and non-linear overview of significant events, relying on existing data. It is not a definitive analysis and might lack exhaustive details. For a thorough understanding, readers are encouraged to refer to more comprehensive sources on the topic.
Synopsis
- Introduction
- The Israelites in Canaan
- Migration to Egypt due to Famine
- Enslavement in Egypt
- Exodus and the Ten Commandments
- The Waters of Meribah
- The Disobedience of Moses
- Appointment of Joshua
- Canaan Region
- Arabs in Canaan
- Early Demographic Composition
- Zionist Movement
- Chaim Weizmann
- Balfour Declaration
- Mandatory Palestine
- Shaw Commission
- Peel Commission
- Nazi Era
- UN Partition Plan
- Formation of Israel
- Recognition of Israel
- Peace Agreements
- Palestinian Statehood
- Significance of Temple Mount
- Conclusion
- Reference
Introduction
Let’s explore the complex framework of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, starting from the ancient era of the Israelites in Canaan, and concluding with the present geopolitical situation. This will be a summary of a previous essay titled "From Adam and Eve to Abrahamic Religions" with additional information, aiming to understand the significant impact of the battle over the divided land. In the present day, Christian-majority nations frequently serve as mediators in encouraging peace in the Israel-Palestine region, where Israel practices Judaism and Palestine practices Islam.
The Israelites initially resided in the region of Canaan. Abraham, who is widely recognised as the patriarch of the Israelites, established a settlement in the region based on the Lord's direction. Subsequently, his progeny, which encompassed Jacob (also known as Israel) and his twelve sons, continued to reside in this vicinity.
Migration to Egypt due to Famine
Joseph, one of Jacob's children, was sold into slavery by his brothers but eventually ended up migrating to Egypt through Ishmaelites, where he eventually rose to a position of authority. He extended an invitation to his family to accompany him to Egypt, where they would receive proper care and support. As a result of a significant scarcity of food supplies in the region of Canaan, Jacob's family migrated to Egypt.
Enslavement in Egypt
Over the course of time, the Israelites experienced significant population growth, resulting in a substantial increase in their numbers within the region of Egypt. The emergence of a new Pharaoh led to the implementation of a system of enslavement upon the Israelites, resulting in their forced participation in laborious activities. Please note that the belief that Israelites helped build the pyramids is based on religious traditions rather than historical evidence.
The Exodus
In response to the Lord's message, Moses requested that Pharaoh free the Israelites, but Pharaoh refused. In retaliation, the Lord brought ten plagues upon Egypt. Eventually, Pharaoh relented, and the Israelites were released. As they departed Egypt, they reached near the Red Sea. On Pharaoh's command, the Egyptian army attempted to capture them. Moses, empowered by the Lord, led the Israelites across the Red Sea, and the pursuing Egyptian army was defeated.
Now, Moses led the Israelites into the desert, where he received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. The Lord had promised them the country of Canaan as their ultimate goal. The journey, however, took many years, and the Israelites encountered numerous hardships and disasters.
The Disobedience of Moses
During the journey across the desert, the Israelites expressed their dissatisfaction with the limited availability of water to Moses and Aaron. The Lord commanded Moses to speak to a rock to facilitate the provision of water for the people. However, Moses struck the rock with his rod.
The Lord was upset when Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to it as commanded. As a consequence, the Lord admonished Moses, declaring that he wouldn't lead the people into the Promised Land because he didn't fully trust the Lord. Consequently, Moses would have a restricted view of the area, unable to fully explore it.
Appointment of Joshua
Joshua, a figure of great significance in religious history, was chosen by the Lord to assume the role of leader and successor to Moses. His primary responsibility was to guide the Israelites into the land of Canaan, referred to as the Promised Land. Under the leadership of Joshua, the Israelites embarked on a significant expedition into the land of Canaan, where they encountered the native inhabitants of the region, specifically the Canaanite tribes, including the Jebusites.
Canaan Region
The term "Canaan" is used to denote a geographical area that included portions of present-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. Throughout history, the Canaan region has witnessed the emergence and decline of multiple empires, encompassing the Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek and Roman empires.
Arabs in Canaan
The Arabian Peninsula, which is inhabited by the Arab people, has a geographical border with the Canaan region. The native inhabitants, namely the Canaanite tribes, engaged in interactions with Arab traders. However, the foundation of significant Arab settlements in the region was postponed until a later era.
During the 7th century, subsequent to the emergence of Islam, Arab armies under the leadership of caliphs achieved conquests of significant magnitude, encompassing substantial territories of the Byzantine and Sassanian empires. These conquests also extended to various regions within the Canaan. The arrival of Islam within Arab culture was facilitated by this development. The Canaan region was under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, which was based on Islam, from the 16th century until the outbreak of World War I. During this period, the demographic composition included individuals from Arab, Turkish, Kurdish, and various other ethnic backgrounds.
Early Demographic Composition
The early population of Palestine consisted mainly of Muslims, with a minority of Christians and Jews, creating a diverse demographic profile. Arab Muslims, having resided in the area for an extended period, hold a significant cultural and historical legacy. Their historical engagement in the Canaan region continues to influence the area's present dynamics.
Zionist Movement
Initiated in the late 1800s, Zionism is a political and ideological movement with the aim of establishing a Jewish homeland in the historic land of Israel. In short, the Zionist movement sought to transform Palestine, whose majority population consisted of Arab Muslims, and which was pursuing statehood at the time, into a Jewish state. Zionists held the belief that the socio-political climate had the potential to provide solutions to the obstacles encountered by Jewish communities on an international scale. Significant individuals, such as Theodor Herzl, were instrumental in fortifying the progress of the cause.
Chaim Weizmann
Chaim Weizmann, a leading Zionist and chemist, played a significant role in the issuance of the Balfour Declaration. During World War I, he contributed to the British War effort by developing a biological fermentation process to produce acetone, which was essential for the manufacture of explosives. This achievement brought him into close contact with senior British leaders, including Prime Minister David Lloyd George and Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour. Through his influence and lobbying, Chaim Weizmann played a key role in securing Britain’s support for a Jewish national home in Palestine in 1917.
Balfour Declaration
The Balfour Declaration, issued in 1917, expressed the official support of the British Government for the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in the territory of Palestine. Although not the only factor, it had a significant impact on the eventual establishment of Israel in 1948 and continues to divide the region despite numerous peace negotiations.
The declaration was deliberately vague, promising a Jewish “national home” while also stating that the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine would not be prejudiced. This ambiguity fueled decades of conflicting interpretations, laying the groundwork for tensions between Jews and Arabs under the British Mandate.
Mandatory Palestine
Following the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the League of Nations granted Britain the authority to administer the territory of Palestine, including modern-day Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip which was known as the Mandatory Palestine (also called British Palestine, 1920 to 1948). The purpose of the Mandate was to prepare the region for self-governance by granting the Britain administrative authority over the region. In 1923, Britain dropped Transjordan (now Jordan) from the Mandate and made it semi-autonomous under Emir Abdullah I. It was granted independence in 1946.
During the period of Mandatory Palestine, the majority of the population of Palestine adhered to Islam. At the same time, the Balfour Declaration was a significant political endorsement for the Zionist movement, which sought to establish a Jewish homeland, resulting in a significant increase in Jewish immigration to the region. The surge in Jewish immigration led to heightened tensions and clashes between Jewish immigrants and Arab communities.
Shaw Commission
The Shaw Commission, officially the Palestine Commission of Inquiry, was appointed by Britain in 1929 to investigate the causes of the violent Arab riots in Palestine, particularly in Jerusalem and Hebron. It concluded that the main cause of unrest was Arab fear of being displaced by growing Jewish immigration and land purchases, though it also blamed Arab leaders for inciting violence. The report acknowledged the deep-rooted political and economic grievances of the Arab population. Its findings later influenced the Hope Simpson Report and the Passfield White Paper, which recommended restrictions on Jewish immigration and land acquisition.
Peel Commission
In 1936, the Peel Commission, officially the Palestine Royal Commission, was set up by Britain to investigate instability in Mandatory Palestine. The commission concluded that the Mandate was unworkable because Jewish and Arab national aspirations were fundamentally incompatible. As a solution, it recommended partitioning Palestine into a small Jewish state, a larger Arab state, and a British-controlled international zone around Jerusalem with access to the coast.
It was the first official British proposal to divide the territory, and it also controversially suggested transferring some Arab populations out of the proposed Jewish state. While some Zionist leaders accepted the plan as a possible starting point, Arab leaders rejected it outright, insisting that all of Palestine rightfully belonged to them.
Nazi Era
Millions of people of Jewish descent were methodically targeted and killed by Nazi Germany, a practise known as the Holocaust. During the historical period known as the Nazi era, Adolf Hitler developed an ideology framework centred on the notion of Aryan supremacy, which included a campaign against the Jewish community.
In order to evade persecution by the Nazi regime, a considerable number of Jewish individuals sought refuge in several European countries as well as in the region of Palestine under British administration. The Palestinians exhibited varying attitudes towards Jewish immigrants, with some voicing endorsement for their arrival, while others voiced apprehension regarding the potential impact on their land and resources. The Arab-Jewish conflict was intensified as a result of increased Jewish immigrants.
In 1947, the United Nations (UN) suggested partitioning Mandatory Palestine, proposing the establishment of separate Jewish and Arab republics, with Jerusalem under international administration based on the recommendations of Peel Commission reports. The majority Arab population in Palestine expressed opposition to the proposal due to their desire for the establishment of a single unified Arab state in the region, while Jewish leaders shown consent. Britain, known for its divide and rule policies, which held the Mandate and decided to withdraw from the region without resolving the ongoing conflicts between Jewish and Arab communities.
Formation of Israel
The declaration of the State of Israel occurred on May 14, 1948, under the leadership of David Ben-Gurion, head of the Jewish Agency, a global organization promoting Zionist objectives. Arab governments, including Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq, rejected the United Nations partition plan and launched a military campaign against the newly formed state, initiating the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. An estimated 7,00,000 Palestinians lost their homes during the conflict, either fleeing or being forcibly expelled. This event is known as the Nakba (“Catastrophe”), reflecting the displacement and suffering of the Palestinian people.
The 1967 Six-Day War was a brief but decisive conflict between Israel and the neighbouring Arab states of Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, Sinai Peninsula, and Golan Heights, reshaping the region’s political and territorial landscape and fueling ongoing disputes over the occupied territories.
The foundation of the State of Israel resulted in notable demographic shifts and engendered confrontations with the Arab community residing in the region. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has prominently featured the Palestinian population, who are primarily of Arab descent following Islam and Israeli population, who are primarily of Jew descent following Judaism.
Recognition of Israel
The establishment of the State of Israel was acknowledged by some nations, although not universally recognised by all nations. Several nations with Muslim-majority population initially abstained from recognising the existence of the state of Israel and presently maintain differing degrees of diplomatic engagement with it in the post-globalization era.
Peace Agreements
Following the Arab-Israeli War and the formation of Israel, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict entered a new phase marked by continuous tensions and violent outbreaks. In pursuit of a lasting peace, diplomatic efforts resulted in a series of agreements between the State of Israel and Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), primarily governed by the United States and international organizations. These agreements addressed vital concerns including the status of Jerusalem, refugee rights, securities and borders.
However, Oslo Accords (1990s), Wye River Memorandum (1998), Camp David Summit (2000), Taba Summit (2001), Road Map for Peace (2003), Annapolis Conference (2007) and other peace attempts have all failed in achieving a comprehensive harmony. The situation remains complex, marked by numerous obstacles and conflicts.
Palestinian Statehood
The Palestinian population is actively engaged in seeking international recognition and asserting their right to self-determination through the establishment of an autonomous state. The current political conflict centres on the Palestinian areas, namely the Gaza Strip and West Bank.
Significance of Temple Mount
// Judaism //
The Temple Mount is Judaism's holiest site. According to Jewish tradition, the First and Second Temples were located on the Temple Mount, making it the epicentre of Jewish religious life.
// Christianity //
The Second Temple of Jerusalem, which is biblically significant, was located on the Temple Mount. According to Christian tradition, Jesus taught and discussed spirituality in the vicinity of the Temple Mount.
// Islam //
Islam considers the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, both located on the Temple Mount, as significant sites associated with Muhammad's miraculous Night Journey. According to Islamic tradition, the Temple Mount is the third holiest location after Mecca and Medina.
Conclusion
The Israel-Palestine conflict arises from fundamental religious, political, and cultural disparities, with both factions exploiting archaeological finds to strengthen their historical assertions on the territory. Israelis cite ancient Jewish settlements and sites, such as the Temple Mount, while Palestinians emphasize locations like Jericho and Bethlehem. Nevertheless, the emphasis on archaeology frequently intensifies conflicts and diverts attention from the pressing necessity for discussions and cooperation. Israelis establish their historical connections by using biblical heroes such as Abraham and Moses, asserting an entitlement to a designated territory in Canaan. Meanwhile, Palestinians emphasize their Arab roots and long-standing existence in the region, asserting their right to self-determination before the establishment of Israel. Despite multiple efforts to achieve peace, a long-term resolution continues to be difficult to attain, thereby prolonging existing disputes and raising uncertainty about the likelihood of peace.
In short, the conflict driven by religious and power disputes stands as evidence supporting the proverb, “those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it,” and underscores the notion that War often leads to the sacrifice of young lives, while older individuals engage in diplomatic discussions.
Reference
Origins and Evolution of Palestine Problem
The Temple Mount
History of Israel
Arab-Israeli Wars
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