ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of the world’s most enduring conflicts, with the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip reaching 54 years of conflict. Various attempts have been made to resolve the conflict as part of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
Phases of Israeli State Formation
- 1887: Theodor Herzl forms the World Zionist Organization with the aim of establishing a homeland for Jews in Palestine-Israel, the region viewed as the historical homeland of the Jewish people.
- April 1920: At the San Remo Conference, Britain, France, Italy, Japan, and other powers endorsed the British Mandate for Palestine. This followed the Balfour Declaration of 1917, which expressed British support for the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine.
- July 1922: The League of Nations further confirmed the British Mandate and the Balfour Declaration, endorsing Britain’s role in establishing a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
- 1937: Lloyd George, the British Prime Minister at the time of the Balfour Declaration, clarified that its purpose was the establishment of a Jewish state.
- July 1937: The Peel Commission recommended the partition of Palestine, proposing that Jews would have the opportunity to call part of the land their National Home and eventually establish a Jewish state.
- November 29, 1947: The United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181 called for the partition of the British Mandate of Palestine into two states—one Jewish and one Arab. The resolution used the term “Jewish state” 27 times.
Reasons for Arab-Israel Conflict
- Formation of Israel: The creation of the State of Israel in 1948 occurred in a land that had been part of the Ottoman Empire and later under British control. Palestine had a Muslim majority population, but also a Jewish minority. The establishment of Israel led to significant tensions.
- Jerusalem: The city of Jerusalem is a focal point of the conflict, as it holds religious significance for both Judaism and Islam, making it a contested city between Israelis and Palestinians.
- Non-Recognition: Many Muslim-majority nations initially refused to recognize Israel, only acknowledging Palestine as a legitimate state. Over time, some Arab nations have begun to recognize Israel.
- Balfour Declaration: The Balfour Declaration of 1917, which supported the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine, was viewed favorably by Jews but caused significant resentment among Arabs, leading to long-term friction.
- Arab-Israeli Wars (1948): The Arab-Israeli War of 1948, which followed Israel’s declaration of independence, resulted in Israel gaining additional territory. The war heightened tensions with Syria, Jordan, and Egypt.
- Intifada: The Palestinian Intifadas (uprisings) were major resistance movements against Israeli occupation. Israel’s military response to these uprisings has been condemned by many Arab nations.
- Yom Kippur War (1971): In 1971, Syria and Egypt launched a surprise attack on Israel during Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. This conflict escalated as other Arab states sent support to the Egyptians and Syrians.
- Support for PLO: Many Arab nations have supported the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), which Israel views as a terrorist organization. The PLO has carried out multiple attacks, including hijackings and the infamous Munich Olympic massacre.
Arab Recognition of Israel
- Egypt: Following the Camp David Accords in the late 1970s, Israel and Egypt signed a peace treaty in March 1979. Under this treaty, the Sinai Peninsula was returned to Egypt, while the Gaza Strip remained under Israeli control, with the potential of being included in a future Palestinian state.
- Jordan: In October 1994, Israel and Jordan signed a peace agreement, which ended hostilities and stipulated mutual cooperation. The agreement included the fixing of the Israel-Jordan border and the resolution of other issues.
- Abraham Accords: The Abraham Accords were a landmark diplomatic agreement signed in 2020 between Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the United States. Later, Bahrain also joined the accords. The accords aimed to normalize diplomatic and economic relations between Israel and these Arab states.
- Sudan: On October 23, 2020, Sudan announced an agreement to normalize relations with Israel, marking a significant diplomatic shift.
- Morocco: In 2020, Morocco also recognized Israel and normalized relations following the signing of the Abraham Accords.
- Rest of the World: As of December 2020, 164 of the 192 UN member states officially recognized Israel. However, 28 countries still do not recognize Israel, many of which are Muslim-majority nations.
Conclusion
In the aftermath of the Abraham Accords, many Arab nations have moved toward normalizing relations with Israel, primarily driven by geopolitical concerns such as the rising influence of Iran in the Middle East, which is viewed as a destabilizing force in the region. This reflects a shifting landscape in Middle Eastern politics, where former adversaries are finding common ground to address emerging threats.