THE ISRAELI- PALESTINIAN CONFLICT

In the Arab- Israel conflict, Israeli- Palestinian issue has been at the heart of Middle Eastern Politics in the twentieth century.

  To understand and to come to term with

Israeli- Palestinian conflict, we are first require to analyze and describe the parties involved in the conflict.

The purpose of this is to know the context through which they interpret history

- How the parties define themselves - How they are viewed by others

The term Palestinians and Israelis

Until mid- 1970, the term ‘Palestinians’ were not used by Jews in Israel and elsewhere.

By doing so, they failed to acknowledge Palestinians’ right to self-determination and territorial sovereignty

 

  The term Israelis is relatively new as well, dating to the establishment of the state of Israel on May 15, 1948.

The term Israelis replaced the collective reference to Jews

 

Only since 1980s has the term Palestinians been integrated into the mainstream discourse on the conflict.

In the same way, the Palestine began to replace other formulations such as the territories and the West Bank and Gaza Strip. (Especially after Oslo Accord and establishment of PNA)

On the other hand, Arab countries and other sympathizers used the term Jews or Zionists instead of Israelis until 1990s.

After the acceptance of term Palestinians and Israelis, and its prevalent use ever since then, it became clear the Israeli- Palestinian conflict is first and foremost an intractable conflict between two national movements who claim the same piece of land. The acceptance and normalization of the terms signals to a growing recognition of the legitimacy of both the parties identity claim

This opens up a space for a possible reformulation of these claims in ways that are not mutually exclusive.

History and Dynamic of the Conflict

History plays a central role in:

Shaping people’s collective identities Perceptions of one another General attitudes towards the conflict The prospect for its resolution

If history is ignored it would be extremely difficult to establish the framework and conditions for a just and lasting peace

So it is not just that we deal with history, but rather how to approach history so its examination contributes to both the analysis of the conflict and the exploration of new venues for its resolution.

1. Modern Zionism and Partition of Palestine

Zionist movement emerged in the late nineteenth century in Europe.

It was in response to rise of European nationalism and anti-Semitism

According to Jews

To Palestinians

Zionism is a movement for Jewish national self determination designed to restore their right to

live in the land of their ancestors.

Zionism is an ideology that underlies the settler-colonial movement responsible for occupation of Palestine and the dispossession and exploitation of its indigenous population.

It recommended the partition of Palestine into two states It resulted in further escalation of the situation, with Zionist, Palestinian, and British force fighting for control Britain eventually was force to abandon the 1937 partition plan.

From these two contexts, the collision between Zionism and Palestinian nationals was almost inevitable.

The first period of revolt ended at the request of Arab Higher Committee for Palestine ( AHC)

The revolt second stage was sparked by the Peel Commission report

Confrontation at Jerusalem in 1920s. Another conflict at Tel Aviv and surrounding areas in 1921Then the most dramatic escalations of the conflict occurred during 1936 to 1939 ( The largest before the creation of Israel)

They urged Palestinian to wait for the outcome of deliberations by the Palestine Royal Commission

(also known as the Peel Commission)

After World War 2 and the Holocaust, Jewish people were nearly eliminated in Europe.

In 1947 UN Partition Plan ( Resolution 181) called for

the creation of a Jewish state and an Arab state in Palestine.

Under the Plan:

On November 29, 1947, UN general Assembly voted in favor of this plan

- British mandate over the area was to end in may 15, 1948. - Jewish state was given 57% of Palestine, including the fertile coastal region. * (Though Jews represented 33% of population and owned 7% land).

*(The partition plan gave Jewish state economic revenue that was three times great as those of Palestinian state).

Zionist endorsed the Plan, but didn’t abandon the conviction that all Palestine would come under Jewish control.

For Palestine, UN partition plan was illegal and illegitimate attempt to divide Palestine.

The UN vote on Palestine sparked an unprecedented wave of violence that turned into a full-fledged war after the creation of the state of Israel on May 14, 1948.

*Jew refer to 1948 war as the war of independence fulfilling their national aspiration

* For Palestinian, the 1948 war brought disaster and destruction

- Palestinian community was virtually destroyed

* 780,000 Palestinian became refugees

* 418 Arab villages destroyed

War ended with the establishment of Israel on roughly 77% of the total area of Palestine.

 International Conflict

International Conflicts after the creation of Israel has been divided into three periods

May 1948 to June 1967 June 1967 to December 1987 December 1987 to the present

Conflict between May 1948 and June 1967

In June 1967, a Six day War took place between Israel and its Arab neighbors (Egypt, Syria, & Jordan)

Israel occupied- Sinai desert from Egypt- Golan Heights from Syria - Occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip near Jordon.  As a result, Israel occupied remaining 23% of Palestine

During this period Palestinians were in a state of shock and despairLacked the political leadershipLacked economic resourceWere dependent on neighboring statesThe Palestinian nationalism mute during this period. ( Except for the creation of PLO)

Israeli Jews worked to build a western-style Jewish State in Middle of the Arab WorldPalestinian in Israel were subject to discrimination

Conflict June 1967 to December 1987

1973 War( also known as Yom Kippur war or October War)

-This war marked another turning point in the history of the Israeli- PalestinianEgypt and Syria launched a successful Coordinated attacks on Israel and captured the lands that were taken by Israel.But massive airlift of advanced military equipment from US, Israel soon recapture lost territories.

The Result of this War

The Civil War in Jordan (1970)It was a confrontation between Palestinians and Jordanian.It was a major setback in the Palestinians effort to strengthen their movement outside of Palestine.

For Israel•It had political cost•Shattered the illusion of military invincibility of Israel.

For Palestinians•They sought an independent representation through national resistance movement led by PLO.

Conflict June 1967 to December 1987

In 1977, Anwar Sadat visited Jerusalem and signed Peace treaty with Israel, known as Camp David Accord

  In 1980s, Israel began to build Jewish settlement in

occupied territories on the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Soon they began to blurred the 1967 border ( referred to as ‘ the green

line’) This period was characterized by harsh economic conditions and growing

dependence on Israel. - Inadequate housing - Crisis in education - Deteriorating of school facilities

But its vague formulation regarding the nature of Palestinian autonomy &Failure to regard PLO as official representative of Palestinian peopleThus , it provoked strong negative reaction from the Palestinians.

Conflict June 1967 to December 1987

Israel invasion of Lebanon in 1982

PLO established its political and military bases in Lebanon ( after it withdrew from Jordon)

- Thereafter PLO would attack Israel from their. - Israel decided to inflict damage on the PLO bases in Lebanon -So in June 1982, Israeli troops invaded Lebanon ( for the second time)

  Consequence of the invasion for Israel - Peace groups rose against Israel invasion in Lebanon - Hundred of Israeli Soldier refused to carry out orders. - People of Israel started questions government policies.

Consequence for Palestinians - Defeat of PLO in Lebanon resulted in internal fragmentation and dispute within the organization.

- Dispute also began among Arab countries that supported different factions of PLO. - New organization emerged in the West Bank and Gaza after the destruction of PLO in Lebanon.

The Lebanon invasion became one of the most controversial war in Israel history when its Army sealed off the refugee camps of Sabra and Shatilla and poor Palestinians (including women and children) were massacred by Maronite Christian.

Conflict from December 1987 to the presentThe 1987 Palestinian Uprising This uprising was precipitated on December 8, 1987 after Israeli Army

tank transporter collided with line of cars filled with Palestinian workers at the north end of Gaza ( It killed 4).

  - The funerals of the dead turned in a massive demonstration which

spread from Gaza to Jerusalem and rest of the West Bank.

Palestinians began a non-violent actions that became known as intifada ( means Shaking off)

  As a result, within weeks, the focus of the conflict and the world’s

attention turned to scores of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip

The non-violent actions were: - Street demonstrations. - Tax resistance - Commercial strikes - also the establishment of agricultural cooperatives and alternative education centers.

Israel’s responseIsrael government was caught by surprise. - It tried with great difficulty to formulate a response. -Israel had the strategically advantage, but Palestinians were morally on high ground.

Consequence of First Intifada

For Palestinians It empowered Palestinians by instilling unity among them. Brought hope that the diplomatic solution was in sight.Also, through it:

Reaction in Israel Israeli government continued to responded to the uprising with repression.

 

( But the beginning of Gulf Crisis by 1990 diverted world attention from the Israeli brutality )

Palestinians renounced armed struggleRecognized Israel’s right to exitStrengthened their resolve to establish a Palestinian state.

But public criticism against the government within Israel also increased.Many women groups and other demanded for; Ending of the occupation.Negotiating peace with PLO.Creating two states for two people.

Palestinians and Israeli Jews in the 1990s The first Gulf War of 1991 was another turning point in the history

of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict

But in reality Palestinians position was far more complex.  Palestinian official position was that

 

On the other hand, Palestinian criticized the double standard of International community

  They demanded Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait, but failed to apply the same measures to Israeli occupation of West Bank and

Gaza Strip

Many scholars and Media analyst believed that Palestinians made a poor political choice by siding with Saddam Hussein

- They denounced Iraqi occupation - opposed military solution to resolve the crisis

But like all other societies, Palestinian society was divided on the issue

Gulf War escalated the tensions between Israeli Jew and Palestinians

Israel imposed a twenty four hour curfew on Palestinians in West Bank and the Gaza Strip ( for one and half month)

- People their were soon on the verge of starvation

- Curfew caused great economic hardship for Palestinians

From 1993 to 1999, there was some brief period of genuine rapprochement between Palestinians and Israelis.

Palestinians who worked in Israel were replaced with Jewish immigrants.400,000 Palestinians living in Kuwait lost their livelihood as they were forced to flee and look for refugees elsewhere.

But the following events contributed to the collapse of peace talks: -disastrous Camp David talks in 2000.- Outbreak of second Intifada- Failure of TABA talks of January 2001- Electing of Ariel Sharon as Israeli Prime Minister

The Al-Aqsa Intifada (Second Intifada) Likud Party Leader, Arial Sharon made a provocative

visit to Al- Aqsa Mosque in September 2000 - Unlike first intifada, it was led by armed

Palestinians. - Israeli military suppressed the movement with

massive force

They systematically invaded areas that had been handed over to Palestinian Authority ( P.A) under Oslo Accord.

Sharon also started political assassinations campaign ( targeting key leaders of Palestine resistance)

Palestinian responded with shooting directly at Israeli settlement and Suicide attacks on Israeli citizens.

Israel responded with massive operations

After the 9/11 attacks September 11, 2001 had grave implication for

Palestinians

- Although, Palestinian leadership denounced the attacks and offered its help to United States

  - But the coordination and cooperation between the U.S and Israeli government had strengthened)

Sharon declared Arafat irrelevant and refused to negotiate with Palestinians until he was removed.

By June 2002, Arafat and Palestinians leadership were isolated.

-- Palestinian authority lost all its security force.- Economic situation went all time low- Hamas and Islamic Jihad ideologies became more popular.