In the Crosshairs: Examining Israel's Impact on the Palestine Conflict

Abstract:
The Israel-Palestine conflict stands as one of the most enduring and complex geopolitical challenges of
the 21st century, rooted deeply in a tumultuous history shaped by colonial legacies and conflicting
national aspirations. This paper aims to offer a comprehensive analysis, tracing the origins of the conflict
from the post-World War I era to contemporary tensions. Beginning with the establishment of Israel and
the subsequent Arab-Israeli wars, it explores key events such as accords and agreements as well as
political strategies. Human rights violations against the Palestinian population residing in the West Bank,
including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip have been extensively documented as a result of Israel's
occupation. Israel's military presence, movement restrictions, and settlement expansion are scrutinized
alongside allegations of apartheid and violations of international law. Moreover, this writing delves into
the international community's stance on the conflict, UN resolutions, and ongoing negotiations, providing
a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted dimensions of this land dispute.

How Exactly Israel's Country was Formed?

The establishment of Israel in 1948 marked a significant turning point in the region's history,
shaping its geopolitical landscape. Subsequent conflicts and events have further compounded the
challenges to achieving peace and stability in the region. The history can be sectionized as
follows:
1. Sykes-Pico Agreement (1916) and power vacuum in the Levant.
Following the conclusion of World War I, the collapse of the Ottoman Empire created a
significant power vacuum in the Levant region. This vacuum was swiftly addressed
through the secret drafting of the Sykes-Pico Agreement in 1916 by France and Great
Britain, proposing the division of Ottoman territories between the two powers. However,
the exposure of the agreement to the public in 1917 sparked controversy among the
Arabs, who had been promised independence by the British. The Sykes-Pico Agreement's
revelation highlighted conflicting interests and sowed seeds of discord in the region,
setting the stage for subsequent geopolitical developments and tensions in the Levant.

2. Balfour Declaration (1917) and British support for Jewish settlement.

The Zionist Movement gained momentum following the Balfour Declaration in 1917,
which expressed British support for the establishment of "a national home for the Jewish
people" in Palestine. This declaration, made by British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour
to prominent Zionist leader Lord Walter Rothschild, marked a significant turning point in
the Zionist agenda. Subsequently, at the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, Zionist leaders,
led by Chaim Weizmann, proposed the creation of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Their
vision encompassed territories that would later comprise present-day Israel, as well as
parts of Western Jordan, Southwestern Syria, and Southern Lebanon. These developments
laid the foundation for the Zionist movement's aspirations and set the stage for the British
Mandate in Palestine, which would shape the course of Middle Eastern history.

3. Creation of British-controlled Mandatory Palestine.

Following the establishment of British-controlled Mandatory Palestine, tensions between
the Jewish and Arab communities escalated, fueled by conflicting national aspirations.
The British administration struggled to maintain control over the region as both groups
asserted their claims to the land. In 1936, these tensions erupted into an Arab uprising
against the British mandate and Jewish immigration into the area. In response to the
escalating violence, the British proposed a partition plan for Palestine, suggesting
separate Jewish and Arab states. The proposed borders allocated approximately one-third
of Palestine to the Jewish state, encompassing regions such as the Galilee, the Jezreel
Valley, and the coastal plain. However, Arab leaders vehemently opposed the partition
plan, rejecting the idea of land division and population transfer. Despite efforts to find a
compromise, the failure of these proposals led to the emergence of extreme groups
resorting to violence and terrorism in pursuit of their national objectives. This period of
unrest laid the groundwork for further conflicts and shaped the trajectory of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the decades to come.
4. Post-World War II and UN Proposal:
In the aftermath of World War II and the devastating tragedy of the Holocaust, which the
Jews underscored as a need for a Jewish homeland immediately, the United Nations
proposed a two-state solution in 1947. This proposal aimed to address the longstanding
tensions between Jewish and Arab communities in Palestine by envisioning separate
states for each group. The plan delineated a Jewish state comprising the fertile Galilee
region, the coastal plain, and the Negev Desert, while an Arab state would encompass the
hill region of Judea and Samaria, along with the coastal Gaza Strip. Recognizing the
significance of Jerusalem to both groups, the United Nations designated the city as an
international entity, reflecting its importance as a religious and cultural center for Jews,
Muslims, and Christians alike. However, despite these efforts to foster peace and stability,
the partition plan ultimately faced challenges and paved the way for further conflict in the
region.

Fig 1.1 Partition Plan of 1947 Map

5. Declaration of Israeli Independence (1948)
The declaration of Israeli independence in 1948 marked a pivotal moment in the history
of the region, following the United Nations' proposal of a two-state solution. While
Jewish leaders welcomed the opportunity for an independent state, Arab leaders opposed
the plan, refusing to accept any division of the land and the separation of their people. In
response to the establishment of Israel, neighboring Arab nations launched a military
invasion, viewing it as a Zionist occupation of Palestinian territory. This conflict, known
as the Arab-Israeli War, it intensified tensions and laid the groundwork for decades of
hostility and territorial disputes between the two sides.

6. Arab-Israeli Wars and Territorial Changes (1948 - 1973)

The Arab-Israeli War of 1948, also known as the First Arab-Israeli War, erupted between
Israel and a coalition of Arab states including Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
Israel emerged victorious in 1949, establishing the Green Line as its new border and
expanding its territory beyond the UN recommendations, encompassing Western Galilee
and a significant portion of the Negev Desert. The Suez Crisis of 1956 saw Israel accused
of violating UN resolutions by extending its boundaries, leading to heightened tensions
with neighboring Arab states. This conflict escalated into the second Arab-Israeli war,
also known as the Suez Crisis, with a coalition of French, British, and Israeli forces
attacking Egypt in response to its nationalization of the Suez Canal. The war concluded
with Israel gaining control over the Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula, West Bank, and
Jerusalem. In 1967, the Six-Day War erupted between Israel and Arab states including
Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Iraq. Israel emerged victorious once again, expanding its
territorial control to include the Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West Bank, Old City of
Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights.

7. Post-1967 Developments:
Following the 1967 conflict, significant developments unfolded in the region. In 1973,
the Yom Kippur War was initiated by Arab states in an attempt to regain territories lost to
Israel. Despite initial successes, Israeli forces managed to repel the attacks and even
advanced into Egyptian and Syrian territories beyond the pre-war lines. Subsequently, the
Camp David Agreements of 1978 marked a historic turning point. These agreements,
facilitated by US President Jimmy Carter, brought Egyptian President Sadat and Israeli
Prime Minister Begin together at Camp David for peace negotiations. The accords
resulted in a groundbreaking peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, with Israel agreeing
to return the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt by 1982. Additionally, the agreements paved the
way for normalized relations between the two nations. Concurrently, in the West Bank,
military rule transitioned to semi-civil authority under the Israeli Ministry of Defense,
signifying a shift in governance structure in the occupied territories.
 8. Lebanon Occupation and PLO Influence:
Regarding the Oslo Accords and the establishment of the Palestinian Authority, the late
1980s saw PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization) Chairman Yasser Arafat and other
Palestinian parties play a pivotal role in initiating these agreements. Signed in 1993, the
Oslo Accords aimed to establish structured Palestinian self-governance and a potential
two-state solution. Consequently, the Palestinian Authority was established in 1994,
granting it limited self-rule over parts of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. This
arrangement, part of a transitional period, aimed at achieving a final peace settlement.
The Accords delineated the West Bank into three areas: Area A under full Authority
control, Area B under Palestinian civil control and Israeli security control, and Area C
under full Israeli control. While the Palestinian Authority gained control over most
population centers in the West Bank and Gaza, Israel retained control over Jewish
settlements, military areas, and most natural resources.

Figure 1.2 The divided section map in Palestine after the Oslo Accords | Picture by Morag M.
Kersel
 9. Camp David II Summit and Hamas Control
In July 2000, U.S. President Bill Clinton convened the Camp David Summit to negotiate
a final agreement between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian Authority
Chairman Arafat. The proposals discussed at the summit included:
- Territory:
● Barak offered Palestinians 73% of the West Bank and 100% of Gaza, with
land swaps.
● Clinton later proposed 94%-96% of the West Bank plus 3% land swaps.
- Jerusalem:
● Palestinians sought sovereignty over all of East Jerusalem, including
Haram-Ash-Sharif.
● Israel refused to cede East Jerusalem and the Old City.
- Refugees:
● Palestinians demanded full implementation of the right of return under UN
Resolution 194.
● Israel rejected the return of 3.7 million refugees, citing concerns about
Israel's Jewish identity.
- Security:
● Israel proposed an international force in the Jordan Valley and a
permanent security presence along 15% of the Jordan-Palestine border.

Fig 1.3 From left to right Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, 42nd USA President Bill Clinton,
and Palestinian Authority Chairman Arafat in Camp David II Summit (2000)

Camp David II summit in 2000 failed to reach an agreement and permanent solution.
Eventually, the situation became more complicated with the Second Intifada (a
Palestinian resistance against Israeli occupation). Following the failed proposal Israeli
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon unilaterally withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005. This
withdrawal entailed the removal of all Israeli settlements in Gaza and four in the northern
West Bank. However, in 2007, Gaza came under the control of Hamas following a civil
 war in the region. This division left the West Bank under the control of the Palestinian
National Authority and Gaza under Hamas. Since then, Gaza has faced challenging
conditions due to Israeli and Egyptian blockades aimed at limiting Hamas's influence,
resulting in economic struggles and ongoing conflict.

The Current State of Palestine's Land

Tensions between Hamas and Israel escalated significantly, leading to a devastating
confrontation that erupted in October 2023. Despite international efforts and occasional
ceasefires, the conflict continues to simmer, with both sides accusing each other of aggression
and provocation. Israel's policies toward Palestinians, while less overt than during the Nakba, are
still a source of contention, with accusations of oppression and dispossession persisting.

Fig 1.4 Palestinian Loss of Land 1947 to Present

The Emergence of Hamas and Its Relationship with Israel Now.

As was previously mentioned, in 2007 HAMAS seized control of Gaza, sparking a civil war with
the legitimate Palestinian government. However, what is HAMAS exactly and where did it come
from? Hamas, short for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya (Islamic Resistance Movement), is an
Islamist militant group and major political party in the Palestinian territories that was established
in 1987. Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip after defeating its rival, Fatah, in the 2006
elections. Following a civil war with Fatah, Hamas solidified its control of Gaza in 2007. Hamas
has fought several wars with Israel since it took power in Gaza, including the 2008-2009 Gaza
War and the 2014 Gaza War. Israel has repeatedly attacked Hamas with air strikes and sent
troops into Gaza, while Hamas has launched rocket attacks. The most recent major conflict
began in early October 2023. Some countries have designated Hamas a terrorist organization
including the EU & USA, though some apply this label only to its military wing and political
party like the UN. In this recent tensions the Israeli military has been trying to eliminate Hamas
as an armed force and destroy their military infrastructure, such as tunnels, ammunition caches,
and other strong points, which is expected to take six to nine more months.

Israeli Settlement in Occupied Palestine

The issue of occupation in Gaza is a contentious one, rooted in historical and legal complexities.
While Israel formally withdrew its settlers from Gaza in 2005 under Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon's disengagement plan, the region has remained under a blockade by land, air, and sea
since 2007. This blockade has led many international bodies, including the United Nations,
various aid organizations, and think tank organizations, referring to Gaza as an "occupied
territory." According to international law, occupation occurs when a hostile army effectively
controls a territory during an armed conflict, with the understanding that it should be temporary
and subject to specific protections for civilians. However, Israel's practices in Gaza have raised
concerns regarding their adherence to these principles. These include the establishment of
settlements in occupied Palestinian land, restrictions on Palestinian movement and property
rights, the use of military courts for Palestinian trials instead of civil courts, and reported
obstacles to humanitarian aid access in Gaza.

Situation under Israeli occupation

The Israeli military maintains a significant presence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, where they
have established a two-tiered legal and political system that provides comprehensive rights for
Jewish settlers while Palestinian residents face severe restrictions on movement and face
violence and theft from settlers, often with little to no recourse. The examined aspects of the
situation in occupied Palestine include:

1. Movement Restrictions:
Military checkpoints and patrols are prevalent in the West Bank, and Palestinians face
severe restrictions on movement under Israel's permit system. Permits to move between
the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem are difficult to obtain, and violence and theft
from settlers often go unpunished.

2. Security Measures
Security measures include military raids, roadblocks, and curfews, which have intensified
since October 7, and armed settlers, sometimes supported by Israeli forces, pose threats to
Palestinian safety.
Figure 5.1 Movement obstacles in the West Bank by their types, July 2023 | Photo:
courtesy of OCHA
3. Demolitions and Displacements:
Infrastructure, including private property, is regularly destroyed by Israeli forces, and
between 2009 and February of a particular year, 10,472 Palestinian-owned structures
were demolished in the West Bank, leading to the displacement of 15,825 Palestinians.

4. Illegal Israeli Settlements:

Israeli settlers, often supported by the government, cause the displacement of Palestinians
through the construction of illegal settlements, which violate international law and the
Fourth Geneva Convention. Despite a supposed halt in new settlements after the Oslo
Accords in 1993, construction has continued. The Israeli military has also been involved
in the demolition of Palestinian homes and the displacement of Palestinians through the
"silent transfer" policy in occupied East Jerusalem, which involves revoking residency
status and uprooting Palestinians through house demolitions, barriers in obtaining
building permits, and high taxes. This policy has resulted in the displacement of more
than 14,643 Palestinians since 1967.

5. Separation Wall:
Israel constructed a 708km-long separation wall in the West Bank in 2002, which only
follows the 1967 Green Line in 15% of its length, encroaching into Palestinian territory.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled it a violation of international law in 2004,
but it still stands. This wall, which was built to separate Israeli settlers from the
Palestinian population, has been a source of contention and has led to numerous human
rights violations against the Palestinian population. The wall has been used as a tool to
control the movement of Palestinians, restrict their access to resources, and limit their
ability to live a normal life. Despite the ICJ's ruling, the wall remains a significant
obstacle to peace and stability in the region.

Figure 5.2 Map of Constructed Israeli Separation Wall | Photo : Coursey by AlJazeera
International Community Reaction against Israeli Occupation
Numerous international leaders joined the Doha Forum in 2023 and publicly denounced the
Israeli genocide in Gaza. They demanded an immediate cessation of hostilities, which has put
international organizations, especially the UN, to the test. This siege has brought to light what
many believe to be an institutional failure on a global scale to halt Israel's killing of women and
children and its unrelenting bombardment.

Israel's occupation of East Jerusalem commenced at the conclusion of the 1967 war, solidifying
its annexation with the passage of the Jerusalem Law in 1980, which declared the combined East
and West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. However, the international response to this move was
swift, with the UN Security Council deeming the Jerusalem Law "null and void" through
Resolution 478 in 1980. Despite Israel's assertions, the majority of the global community
continues to regard East Jerusalem and the West Bank as Palestinian territories unlawfully
occupied by Israel. Notably, apart from the US, no other major country recognizes Jerusalem as
Israel's capital. In a controversial decision on December 6, 2017, former US President Donald
Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and relocated the US embassy there. Conversely,
the United Nations General Assembly took steps to acknowledge Palestine's statehood,
recognizing its declaration of independence in 1988 and granting it "non-member observer state"
status in 2012. With 193 member states in the United Nations, the majority recognize Israel (162
states, 84%) while a significant portion (138 states, 72%) recognize the State of Palestine,
marking a complex and contested geopolitical landscape.

Figure 6.1 The stance of countries towards the recognition of Israel and Palestine | Photo
: Coursey by AlJazeera
A Ceasefire is Unlikely to Happen in Ramadan 1445 H (2024).
It seems unlikely that a ceasefire agreement will be reached in Gaza by the beginning until the
end of Ramadan. Palestinian officials reported that two days of discussions between Hamas and
international mediators in Cairo yielded no significant progress, as Israel opted out of sending a
delegation to the latest round of negotiations. Despite Hamas committing to continue the talks in
Cairo, the Palestinian militant group insists on certain conditions for a ceasefire, including the
release of hostages, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the return of displaced
Gazans to their homes. Israel, in turn, has issued a warning that if the Israeli hostages held in
Gaza are not returned home before Ramadan, they will launch a military offensive into Rafah, in
southern Gaza, where approximately 1.5 million Palestinians seek refuge from the conflict. The
complexity of the discussions stems from disagreements over various issues, including the
release of hostages, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the return of displaced individuals.

Reference:

Amnesty International. (n.d.). Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories. Retrieved from
https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/middle-east-and-north-africa/israel-and-occupied-palestinia
n-territories/report-israel-and-occupied-palestinian-territories/

History Matters. (n.d.). How Did Israel Become a Country? | Animated History. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBBJ__rO9-0

Al Jazeera. (2024, February 22). How does Israel's occupation of Palestine work? Retrieved from
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/22/how-does-israels-occupation-of-palestine-work

The Guardian. (2024, March 5). Gaza ceasefire talks appear to stall days before Ramadan.
Retrieved from
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/05/gaza-ceasefire-talks-appear-stall-days-before-r
amadan

Al Jazeera. (2023, November 27). Palestine and Israel: Brief history, maps, and charts. Retrieved
from
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/27/palestine-and-israel-brief-history-maps-and-charts

Theos. (2023, November 14). A religious war? Misconceptions about the role of religion in the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Retrieved from
https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2023/11/14/a-religious-war-misconceptions-about-th
e-role-of-religion-in-the-israelipalestinian-conflict

BBC News. (n.d.). Israel and the Palestinians: Can settlement issue be solved? Retrieved from
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-54116567

HonestReporting. (n.d.). Camp David II Summit. Retrieved from

https://honestreporting.com/camp-david-ii-summit/