The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: An Exploration through Five Key Questions

The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Origins, Current Situation and Possible Solutions

Origins of the Conflict

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is deeply rooted in the desire of two peoples to occupy the same territory, which is now divided between Israel and the Palestinian territories (the West Bank and Gaza Strip). The historic region of Palestine has been inhabited by various peoples, including the ancestors of both Jews and Arabs, who now lay claim to the land. In 1917, the United Kingdom declared support for the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine, without infringing upon the rights of other peoples in the region, particularly the Arabs. However, the Arabs were already resistant to the idea of Jews settling in the land they inhabited.

In the 1930s, the persecution of Jews in Europe, particularly under Nazi Germany, led to a significant migration to Palestine. In 1937, the British proposed a first plan for partitioning the region, with Jews occupying the north and Arabs the south. Jerusalem, a holy city for both peoples, would remain under British control. However, this plan and subsequent versions failed to gain unanimous support and were abandoned due to the hostilities of World War II.

After World War II, in 1947, the United Nations voted for a partition plan for Palestine, dividing it between Jews and Arabs. The cities of Jerusalem and Bethlehem, which hold religious significance for Jews, Christians, and Muslims, were to remain under international control. The Jews accepted this plan, but the Arabs rejected it. Nevertheless, Israel declared independence in 1948, leading to an assault by Egypt, Transjordan (now Jordan), Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. The Israeli army, known as the IDF, managed to repel the Arab forces and gain control over part of the Palestinian territory. More than 700,000 Palestinians were displaced, while an equal number of Jews settled in Israel in the following years. The Palestinians commemorate this exodus, which they call the Nakba, or catastrophe.

Since then, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has encompassed several issues, including the recognition of both peoples, their respective territories (including the status of Jerusalem), the situation of millions of displaced Palestinians, and the right of return.

The Role of Hamas

Hamas is the largest Palestinian Islamist organization and currently governs the Gaza Strip, a narrow piece of land on the Mediterranean coast bordered by Egypt to the west and Israel to the south and east. Hamas is committed to the destruction of Israel and has engaged in multiple wars with Israel and its military since taking control of Gaza in 2007. The territory, under economic blockade for about 15 years, was previously controlled by Fatah, another political movement that now governs the West Bank.

Hamas has launched numerous rocket attacks against Israel and its military and has been responsible for many deadly attacks. The group is designated as a terrorist organization by several governments, including Canada, the United States, and the European Union. In response to Hamas’ actions, Israel has launched airstrikes on Hamas positions and targeted its leaders multiple times. Israel maintains a blockade on Gaza, which has significant economic and humanitarian consequences for the Palestinian population residing there. Some organizations, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, argue that the blockade violates international law, but a recent UN report concluded that it is not illegal.

The Current Offensive: Unprecedented Challenges

The surprise attack by Hamas forces in this current conflict differs from previous deadly confrontations and wars in two significant ways. Firstly, it occurred 50 years and one day after the start of the Yom Kippur War in 1973, in which a coalition of Egypt and Syria launched an unexpected offensive, allowing their forces to quickly advance into Israeli territory, including the Sinai Peninsula (which had been acquired by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War) and is now under Egyptian control. Similarly, the Hamas attack seemed to catch Israeli forces off guard, despite their specific training for potential conflicts with Palestinian groups.

The extent of the weaponry used by Hamas in this offensive exceeds past confrontations, with numerous sections of the Israeli security barrier breached before attacking Israeli towns and military bases. Moreover, a record number of rockets, estimated to be at least 3,000, have been launched at Israel. Hamas has reportedly taken around a hundred Israelis, including military personnel and high-ranking army officials, as hostages, complicating Israel’s response, especially considering the presence of Palestinians in Israeli prisons. Some observers believe that these Israeli hostages could be used as bargaining chips for their release. Additionally, videos and media reports have shown unexpected advancements by Hamas, such as the use of paramotors, surprising the technologically superior Israeli army.

Previous Attempts at Solutions

Over the years, multiple agreements, conferences, treaties, and attempts at achieving a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians have taken place. However, these efforts have not led to a resolution of the conflict. Some notable attempts include:

• In 1949, an armistice agreement was signed between Israel, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria, ending the ongoing war and formalizing the creation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, as well as establishing a UN-led peacekeeping process.
• In the aftermath of the 1967 war, Israeli politician Yigal Allon proposed a plan that included dividing the West Bank between Jordan and Israel, returning parts of the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt, and annexing East Jerusalem. However, this plan did not gain full acceptance and implementation.
• In 1978, after 12 days of secret negotiations in the United States, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin signed the Camp David Accords, which included provisions for the eventual independence of Gaza and the West Bank from Israeli control. The strategy was rejected by the United Nations because it was negotiated without the involvement of the UN or the main Palestinian political movement and did not address the Palestinian “right of return” for those displaced during Israel’s creation.
• In 1993, Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, led by Yasser Arafat, signed the Oslo Accords, with a second document signed in 1995. These agreements led to the establishment of the Palestinian Authority, tasked with governing the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. However, they did not result in the creation of a Palestinian state, leading to opposition from a significant portion of the Palestinian population and various militant groups.
• In 2000, US President Bill Clinton hosted a summit at Camp David between Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. After 14 days of negotiations, no agreement was reached on issues such as territorial boundaries, the status of Jerusalem, refugees and the “right of return,” security concerns, and the contentious issue of Israeli settlements.

The Current Political Situation in Israel

The offensive comes at a time when Israeli society is more divided than ever. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who regained his position after briefly losing it due to legal threats, needs the support of far-right lawmakers to ensure a majority in his government. Since his return as prime minister, Netanyahu has initiated a highly controversial judicial reform seeking to increase elected officials’ power over the judiciary. The government argues that the reform is necessary to achieve a better balance of powers, but critics see it as a threat to democracy and fear it could lead to authoritarianism. Despite widespread protests against the reform, including hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets, there has been no success in halting its implementation so far.

This conflict, however, has the potential to unite the Israeli population, as has occurred in the past when the risk is considered “existential.” Furthermore, Israel continues its efforts to normalize diplomatic relations with other Middle Eastern countries, some of which have historically supported the Palestinian cause. The ongoing conflict may disrupt this diplomatic process, particularly with Saudi Arabia, which is being facilitated by the United States. Prime Minister Netanyahu has stated that this war will take time and that they will turn all the places where Hamas hides and operates into ruins. However, he has not indicated whether Israel intends to launch a large-scale ground invasion of the densely populated and highly urbanized Gaza Strip. Netanyahu has advised Palestinians living near Hamas activity sites in Gaza to leave immediately.

Sources: Radio-Canada, The New York Times, BBC News