Age Old Conflict — Israel & Palestinian
Foreword
The current status between the two countries Israel and Palestinian are very disturbing and it’s a shame that killing of civilians including children are happening in numbers. To understand root cause of the age- old conflict, we need to look back the history. Israel, which is a small country located in Middle East sharing birders with Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt. The latest Map of Israel after various addition and alteration occurred due to several wars between Israel and Arab group.
History of Israel
Background
The land of Israel is known to be a holy land of Palestine, the birth place of Jewish people, the place where the final form of Hebrew Bible had been compiled and the birthplace of Judaism and Christianity. It contains sacred sites of Judaism, Sarmatism, Christianism, Islam, Druze and the Bahai-i-Faith.
The Hebrew Bible describes constant warfare between Israelis and philistines, whose capital was Gaza. The philistines were Greek refugee settlers, who inhabited in the southern Levantine coast. Out of all the kings ruled, the most noteworthy was King David (1010- 970 BCE). His son Solomon (970–931 BCE) who, built the first temple in Jerusalem as prescribed in the Tanach (Old Testament). Both King David and Solomon were widely referred by Jewish, Christian and Islamic texts.
Foreign Empires That Ruled Israel
Birth of Zionism Movement
In 1896 Theodor Herzl published his book Der Judenstaat asserting the solution to the oppression faced by Jewish in Russia and other part of Eastern Europe, could only be ended by establishing a Jewish state. In 1897 Zionist organization was founded and the first Zionist congress in 1897 proclaimed its aim to establish a home for the Jewish people in Palestine. However, Zionism was regarded with suspicion by the Ottoman rulers.
Between 1904 and 1914, around 40,000 Jews settled in the area now known as Israel. In 1908 the Zionist Organization set up the Palestine Bureau (also known as the “Eretz Israel Office”) in Jaffa and began to adopt a systematic Jewish settlement policy.
In 1909 residents of Jaffa established the first entirely Hebrew-speaking city, Ahuzat Bayit (later renamed Tel Aviv). Hebrew newspapers and books were published, Hebrew schools, Jewish political parties and workers organizations were established.
First World War & Balford Declaration
During World War I Jews supported Germans in view of their enmity with Russians. Somehow, British Government. Wanted the support of Jews for variety of reasons of their own interest like uprooting Ottoman Empire and control of Middle East in collaboration with French. British also hoped to secure American Jewish support for US intervention on Britain’s behalf.
There was already sympathy for the aims of Zionism in the British government, including the Prime Minister Lloyd George. The affected Jews could not return until the British conquest Tel Aviv. Shortly after the British Army drove the Turks out of Southern Syria and the British foreign minister, Arthur Balfour, sent a public letter to the British Lord Rothschild, a leading member of his party and leader of the Jewish community. The letter subsequently became known as the Balfour Declaration of 1917. It stated that the British Government favoured the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people. The declaration provided the British government with a pretext for claiming and governing the country- New Middle Eastern boundaries were decided by an agreement between British and French.
British Mandate of Palestine (1920–1948)
The British Mandate (in effect, British rule) of Palestine, including the Balfour Declaration, was confirmed by the League of Nations in 1922 and came into effect in 1923. The territory of Transjordan was also covered by the Mandate but under separate rules that excluded it from the Balfour Declaration. Britain signed a treaty with the United States (which did not join the League of Nations) in which the United States endorsed the terms of the Mandate. In view of the above a lot of Jewish people started migrating there, but the same created a great objection and displeasure among Arab people. Thereafter, British put restriction in number of Jewish immigrants to Palestine.
UN Partition Plan
In early April ,1947, UK requested the issue of Palestine may be handled by General Assembly. The General Assembly created a committee, United Nations Special Committee on Palestine (UNSCOP). The committee met Jewish and Zionist representation, but Arab Higher Committee boycotted the meetings.
Based on the various observation and discussions, the Majority report of UNSCOP proposed –an independent Arab State, an independent Jewish State, and the City of Jerusalem”, the last to be under “an International Trusteeship System”.
On 29 November 1947, in Resolution 181 (II), the General Assembly adopted the majority report of UNSCOP, but with slight modifications The Plan also called for the British to allow “substantial” Jewish migration by 1 February 1948.
Arab Israel War
First Arab Israel War
After declaration by UNO regarding New State of Israel, The USA and USSR recognized Israel. This was totally disagreed by Arab League members like Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon & Iraq and they proclaimed the right of self determination for the Arab across Palestine. The Arab State marched their forces into Palestine — the first Arab Israel war.
Israel was not equipped and prepared and weak as their birth was nascent. Above all British initiated United Nations Security Council Resolution and declared an arms embargo in the region. Czech violated the resolution and backed up Israel with military equipment against Arab. After around 15 days of war, a month-long UN truce was put into effect.
Israel lost their territory of West Bank to Jordan and Gaza strip to Egypt.
President Nasser of Egypt took over Suez Canal and Nationalized it resulting a great inconvenience to Israeli. With the help of British and French Army, Israel attacked the Sinai Peninsula and retook control of Suez Canal.
Famous Six Days War
Israel made a preemptive attack on Egypt in 1967 and defeated the combined force of Egypt, Jordan and Syria in six days taking back Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula, West Bank and Golan heights. Israel kept on occupying these areas.
Yom Kippur War
On the holiest day of Yom Kippur (as considered by Jews) in 1973 Egypt and Syria launched Air strike on Israel expecting them to be unguarded on this day. The war continued over two weeks, till UN interfered to adopt a resolution to stop the war.
Formation of PLO
Palestine Liberation Organization was formed in 1964 under Yasser Arafat as leader, an umbrella political organization to represent the Palestinian all over the world and with an aim of establishing a state for all Palestinian. They were having their Head Quarter in Lebanon.
First Lebanon War
In 1982 Israel invaded Lebanon and ejected PLO.
First Palestinian Intifada
In Arabic Intifada means uprising. It started as a protest to Israel’s occupation of West Bank and Gaza, it went on from 1987 to 1993 resulting the death hundreds of people
Second Palestinian Intifada
Palestinian launched attacks by rocket launching, Bomb attacks on Israeli at several places in the year of 2000. It continued till 2005, till a cease fire was arrived. Israel agreed and withdrew all their Army from Gaza strip by the end of 2005
Second Lebanon War
In 2006 Israel fought with an Islamic militant group named Hezbollah in Lebanon, Israel occupied Beirut for few days and after a few months war, UN was able to draw a cease fire agreement.
Attacks & Counter Attacks Between Palestinian Terrorists & Israeli
Munich Olympic
In 1972 during Munich Olympic, 11 athletes including coaches of Israel team were taken hostage by Palestinian terrorists. A careless attempt of rescue operation by German authorities resulted the death 11 members of Israeli team and two terrorists also died. The other three terrorists were released by German Authority scot free.
Counter Attacks By Israeli and Attacks by Palestinian Terrorists
After one month of Munich incident, Israeli started a massive assassination against the Palestinian organizations and attacked PLO Headquarter at Lebanon. Other notable events include hijacking of several civilian airliners, Savoy Hotel attack, the Zion square explosive refrigerator and the coastal road massacre.
PLO also counter attacked such as Arvivim school bus massacre, Maa’lot school massacre
Operation Entebbe
In 1976 an Air France plane carrying 260 civilians was hijacked by Palestinian and German Terrorists and flown to Entebbe, Uganda. Non-Jewish passengers were separated out and released by Germans. The hijackers threatened to kill 100 Jewish passengers and French air lines crew who had refused to leave the aircraft. Israel made a rescue operation and got freed all the hostages.
Other Incidents
In 1978 Palestinian attacked on a coastal road at Israel and gun fired on all moving vehicles killing several civilians. Also, hijacked a passenger bus.
IDF launched operation at Litani, Lebanon thereafter. After withdrawal its forces from there, Fatah resumed firing rockets on Israel.
The failed attempt by Palestinian group to kill Israeli Ambassador at Britain resulted another attack by IDF to Lebanon in 1982 and occupied Beirut. US and European Government came in the rescue of Arafat assuring safe exile to Tunisia. During this attack Israel took support of Phalangist, a Christian Arab militant group and carried out bloody Sabra & Shatila massacre. Israelis were badly criticized by the rest for this action.
The Peace Process — Oslo I Agreement
The Oslo I Accord or Oslo I, officially called the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements or short Declaration of Principles (DOP), was an attempt in 1993 to set up a framework that would lead to the resolution of the ongoing Israeli–Palestinian conflict. It was the first face-to-face agreement between the government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
Negotiations concerning the agreement, an outgrowth of the Madrid Conference of 1991, were conducted secretly in Oslo, Norway, hosted by the Fafo institute, and completed on 20 August 1993; the Oslo Accords were subsequently officially signed at a public ceremony in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993, in the presence of PLO chairman Yasser Arafat, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and U.S. President Bill Clinton. The documents themselves were signed by Mahmoud Abbas for the PLO, foreign Minister Shimon Peres for Israel, U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher for the United States and foreign minister Andrei Kozyrev for Russia.
The Accord provided for the creation of a Palestinian interim self-government, the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). The Palestinian Authority would have responsibility for the administration of the territory under its control. The Accords also called for the withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from parts of the Gaza Strip and West Bank.
It was anticipated that this arrangement would last for a five-year interim period during which a permanent agreement would be negotiated (beginning no later than May 1996). Remaining issues such as Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees, Israeli settlements, security and borders would be part of the “permanent status negotiations” during this period.
In August 1993, the delegations had reached an agreement, which was signed in secrecy by Peres while visiting Oslo. In the Letters of Mutual Recognition, the PLO acknowledged the State of Israel and pledged to reject violence, and Israel recognized the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people and as partner in negotiations. Yasser Arafat was allowed to return to the Occupied Palestinian Territories. In 1995, the Oslo I Accord was followed by Oslo II. Neither promised Palestinian statehood.
Noble Peace Prize
In 1994 Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat received the Nobel Peace Prize following the signing on the Oslo Accords, “for their efforts to create peace in the Middle East” The Accords, however, never resulted in peace
Oslo II Accord
The Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip commonly known as Oslo II or Oslo 2, was a key and complex agreement in the Israeli–Palestinian peace process. Because Oslo II was signed in Taba, it is sometimes called the Taba Agreement. The Oslo Accords envisioned the establishment of a Palestinian interim self-government in the Palestinian territories but did not promise an independent Palestinian state. Oslo II created the Areas A, B and C in the West Bank. The Palestinian Authority was given some limited powers and responsibilities in the Areas A and B and a prospect of negotiations on a final settlement based on Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338. The Accord was officially signed on 28 September 1995.
Bilateral Agreements
Several bilateral agreements were signed between Israel and Palestinian Authority after even Oslo II agreement.
a) In 1997 Prime Minister Netanyahu signed Hebron Protocol with Palestinian authority.
b) In 1998 again Netanyahu and Yasser Arafat signed Wye River Memorandum highlighting to honour and implement 1995 treaty.
c) In 1999 Ehud Barak was elected as Prime Minister of Israel and continued to support peace process. In 2000, the Camp David 2000 Summit was held aiming at reaching to a final status of agreement. Arafat did not agree to the proposal as Drafted by Israeli & American negotiators. Barak was ready to offer the entire Gaza strip located at east of Jerusalem.
Arafat disagreed but did not put forward any counter proposal.
d) In 2003 Ariel Sharon became Prime Minister of Israel and he organized Aquba Summit, where Sharon endorsed the road map of peace put forth by USA, European Union, and Russia, which opened dialogue with Mahmoud Abbas and announced his commitment to the creation of a Palestinian state in the future. Following the endorsing of road map, the Quartet on the Middle East was established consisting of representatives from USA, European Union, Russia and UN as intermediary body of the Israel — Palestinian conflict.
e) In 2007 Annapolis Conference was held. It mutually agreed for a two-state solution. The conference ended up with the issuance of a joint statement from all.
Appearance of A New Palestinian Leader
In early 2003 Arafat appointed Mohamoud Abbas as Prime Minister.
Death of Yasser Arafat — a Character Larger Than Life
Yasser Arafat was born in Cairo, Egypt in 1929. His father, Abdel Raouf al-Qudwa al-Husseini, was a Palestinian from Gaza City, whose mother, Yasser’s paternal grandmother, was Egyptian.
He was President of the Palestinian National Authority and Chairman and founder of Palestine Liberation Organization, died at the age of 75 years on 11th Nov,2004 after a short period of illness.
The cause of his death has been since debated, although several different reasons shown. French doctors called a massive haemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident. However, the underlying infection was declared unknown. The official statement announcing his death failed to determine a cause, saying only that he had a “mystery blood disorder”.
Birth of Hamas
Hamas was established in 1987, and has its origins in Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood movement, which had been active in the Gaza strip, since 1950s and gained influence through a network of mosque and various charitable and social organisations. In the 1980s they emerged as a powerful political factor, challenging the influence of PLO and in 1987 adopted a more nationalist and activist line under the name of Hamas. During the 1990s and early 2000s, the organization conducted numerous suicide bombings and other attacks against Israel
In the Palestinian legislative election of January 2006, Hamas gained a large majority of seats in the Palestinian Parliament, defeating the ruling Fatah party. After the elections, conflicts arose between Hamas and Fatah, which they were unable to resolve. In June 2007, Hamas defeated Fatah in a series of violent clashes, and since that time Hamas governed the Gaza portion of the Palestinian Territories, while at the same time they were ousted from government positions in the West Bank. Israel and Egypt then imposed an economic blockade on Gaza and largely sealed their borders with the territory.
After acquiring control of Gaza, Hamas-affiliated other militias launched rocket attacks upon Israel, which Hamas ceased in June 2008 following an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire. The ceasefire broke down late in 2008, with each side accusing the other of responsibility. In late December 2008, Israel attacked Gaza, and withdrawn its forces in mid-January 2009.
Hamas’s presence has worsened the possibility of any peace process between Palestinian and Israel since Hamas do not recognize the existence of Israel.
The Epicentre of Tension
Jerusalem is a land of Holiness where the monuments of all three important religions exists.
Temple Mount Area
This is the most discussed and confused area of 35 acre in Jerusalem and often centre for upsurge of tension leading to clashes. This area is known as Temple Mount. Also, it is called Haram Al Sharif.
In light of the dual claims of Judaism and Islam, it is one of the most contested religious sites in the world. Since the Crusades, the Muslim community of Jerusalem has managed the site through the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf. The Temple Mount is within the Old City, which has been controlled by Israel since 1967. After the Six-Day War, Israel handed administration of the site back to the Waqf under Jordanian custodianship, while maintaining Israeli security control. It remains a major focal point of the Arab–Israeli conflict In an attempt to keep the status quo, the Israeli government enforces a controversial ban on prayer by non-Muslims.
Sheikh Jarrah — Added Fuel to Tension
Sheikh Jarrah located at eastern part of Jerusalem, where there are a lot of Jewish settlement and as well residence of old Palestinian., unfortunately, Israeli Authority are giving a step motherly treatment to those Palestinian and trying to eject them through eviction notices. This is causing a huge unrest and protest by Palestinian. Incidentally, the final decision at Higher court is pending.
Several Incidents of Clashes in Recent Past
In spite of several attempts, agreement and initiative by many leading countries in the Globe and UN, no positive result could be achieved, as tension between the Palestinian and Israeli continued from worse to worst. Let us look few incidents in recent past:
Technological Advantages of Israel — Unique I- DOME
Israel has superiorly with advance technologies, particularly in Missiles and other advance armaments and as well as defence techniques. They developed a complete protection system from rocket and all kinds of missile, Shell, Air attacks from the range of up to70 km. This is known as Invisible or Iron Dome. They do have a naval version, which is known as C -Dome. Iron Dome is an effective, truck-towed, multi-mission mobile air defence system developed by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems. It has a radar system, Analyzer to determine impact point and a launcher to fire Missile to intercept and protection system. This was built with the financial assistance from US. The first Iron dome was deployed in 2011 and by now they have 5 number I -Dome in place.
Reasons for Latest Sparks Between Israeli & Palestinian
The tension between Israel and Palestinian increased since last a few weeks in Jerusalem, with a confluence of recent events- Sheikh Jarrah and imposing restrictions of presence of number of people around Holy site during Ramadan. It resulted intense protests and violence on both sides and with the blaming of each other.
On 25th April,21 after days of protests and clashes, Israeli security Services removed the metal barrier around Damascus gate in Jerusalem — the main thoroughfare for Palestinian in East Jerusalem entering the old city to pray at Al Aqsa Mosque during the month of Ramadan. Following weeks Palestinian continued to protest against Israeli Police practice limiting access to the old city’s holy sites, which led to a number of clashes with Police. Meanwhile, tension have been further rising due to eviction of Palestinian families from their homes. Israeli had introduced a law that Jews can reclaim property lost in 1948 war but it prevents the Palestinian to do so, even, who lost their property in the same war.
The Palestinian youth continued stone throwing, rocket attacks. On Jerusalem day (10th May and National holiday revised to be on 12th May) the usual Flag march was cancelled this year due to the disturbances. On the same day Israeli Police raided Al Aqsa Mosque area and fired rubber bullets and grenades at Palestinian throwing rockets. This incursion to the mosque area outraged many and was reminiscent of the visit of Ariel Sharon in 2000 in the same area, which set off second Intifada.
After this incident and continuous pressure by Israeli Police on Palestinian in Sheikh Jarrah areas, Hamas and Islamic Jihad and other militant groups launched a massive barrage of rockets towards Jerusalem and Tel Aviv after few years from Gaza. Israel responded with enormous bombardment at Gaza resulting death of many civilians including children. And fight continued, Palestinian citizens of Israel came out with further strong protests.
President Biden spoke to Netanyahu and Mohamoud Abbas. UN Chief calls the incident appalling. World powers called for a truce.
Till yesterday 215 Palestinian died and Israel lost 12 lives ,52000 people are already displaced.
A big question — When it ends?
Conclusion
It appears to be a never-ending story of fight and conflict between the two. There could be a solution and arriving at a peace provided they understand the legitimacy of each other’s narrative.
Hawks and Doves among the stakeholders on both sides need to reach to a common ground by talks.
Probably a Two State Solution is by far the best.
World leaders must take a strong and apolitical step towards helping to solve the crisis.
Continuous killings and unrest among two groups must end immediately.
