**Hello everyone,**

Today, I will discuss a conflict that has been ongoing for decades. Imagine sitting at home with
your family when the sky lights up and bombs explode, and destruction fills the air. This isn’t a
movie scene, but a harsh reality for countless families caught in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Today, I will be talking about a conflict that has been ongoing for decades—Imagine you’re
sitting in your home, surrounded by family, when suddenly the sky lights up with bombs, and
the air is filled with the deafening sound of destruction. This is not a scene from a movie but a
harsh reality for countless families living in fear, caught in a decades-long conflict between
Israelis and Palestinians.

Many people only became aware of this conflict in 2023, often forming biases without a full
understanding of the history. To truly grasp the issue, we must recognize it as a story of pain,
displacement, and fragile hope for peace.

The conflict traces back to the 19th and 20th centuries, where many religious tensions and
territorial disputes were happening. In 1947, the United Nations proposed dividing British-
controlled Palestine into Arab and Jewish states with Jerusalem internationalized. As well, UK
turned the palestine problem over to the UN. This decision raised the conflict, and in 1967,
during the Six-Day War, Israel expanded its territory, taking control of the West Bank, Gaza
Strip, Sinai Peninsula, and Golan Heights. Although Egypt and Israel reached peace after the
1973 Yom Kippur War, tensions between Israel and Palestine persisted.

In Gaza, uprisings led to the 1993 Oslo Accords, which granted limited Palestinian self-
governance and marked a step toward mutual recognition between Israel and the Palestine
Liberation Organization (PLO). Israel accepted the PLO as the representative of the
Palestinians, and the PLO renounce terrorism and recognized Israel’s right to exist in peace.
Both sides agreed that a Palestinian Authority (PA) would be established and assume
governing responsibilities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. However, peace was disrupted by
a second intifada in 2000, and by 2006, political divisions within Palestine escalated tensions,
particularly between Hamas in Gaza and Fatah in the West Bank. Since then, intermittent
clashes and attempts at peace have followed, with significant escalations in 2014,
2021, and most recently in October 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel.
This led Israel to declare war, resulting in widespread displacement and humanitarian
concerns in Gaza. Israel launched expensive strikes at Gaza that caused displacement and
humanities concerns. Both sides resisted ceasefire efforts.

The Vice President of the Jewish Federation of Sacramento emphasized that Israel’s
establishment offered safety for Jewish people, especially after expulsions from countries like
Morocco and Syria. While acknowledging discrimination against Palestinians in Israel, they
argued Gaza had opportunities to build institutions but focused on territorial disputes, holding
Hamas responsible for civilian casualties. They called for dialogue to ensure freedom and
security for both sides. A Palestinian American League member shared a personal story of
displacement, criticizing the replacement of indigenous Palestinians with settlers and
oppression under Israeli control, including Gaza’s restricted autonomy. Jewish Voice for Peace
advocates for safety for both Jews and Palestinians, criticizing systemic violence against
Palestinians and urging solutions to end the violence and secure lasting peace.

Two Israeli dissidents shared their experiences growing up amidst the ongoing conflict.

The first Israeli dissident, raised in a structured Zionist system in Haifa, initially felt secure but
later realized how shielded she had been from the realities faced by Palestinians. Her
interactions with diverse groups exposed her to the effects of colonialism and the systemic
deprivation of Palestinian freedoms. This awakening led her to oppose the illegal
manufacturing of weapons used in war crimes and join Palestine Action, an activist movement
exposing oppressive systems. Initially, authorities avoided court cases to limit attention, but as
the movement grew, activists faced arrests and biased trials. She condemned the arbitrary use
of state power, drawing parallels with Palestinian struggles, and stressed that inaction could
lead to far worse consequences than imprisonment.

(This led her to oppose the manufacturing of weapons used in war crimes and join
Palestine Action, an activist movement challenging oppressive systems. As the movement
grew, activists faced arrests and biased trials. She condemned the arbitrary use of state
power and emphasized the moral urgency of taking action against these injustices.)

The second Israeli dissident shared how his family's history and his rejection of Zionist
ideology shaped his views. Born to European parents who moved to Palestine, he grew up
fearing neighboring communities and described Zionism as a cult denying Palestinians
equal humanity. After joining the military at 17, he began questioning his identity while
researching missile technology and ultimately rejected his role as a soldier, aligning with
Palestinians in their fight for justice.
His activism started with opposing the separation wall, joining weekly demonstrations
organized by local villagers. Arrested multiple times, he witnessed violence, including a
friend's injury during a protest. He criticized Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest military
company, which manufactures over 85% of the killer drones used relentlessly in Gaza,
west bank along with tear gas ammunition, salt bullets, and bean bags. He condemned
their role in Gaza bombings as "R&D in action."

The dissident also criticized the UK’s complicity, noting that Elbit operates from a UK
headquarters and that the country altered its universal jurisdiction laws in 2011 to shield
Israeli war criminals from prosecution. He expressed frustration at how those opposing these
actions are often branded as criminals themselves, reflecting the pervasive silencing of
dissent.

The conflict has caused immense harm to both Palestinians and Israelis. For Palestinians,
displacement has been a generational experience, with many expelled from their homes over
the past 54 years. Restrictions on movement, healthcare, and basic rights under Israeli
occupation have led to severe risks for 4.8 million residents, including attacks by illegal
settlers that have made challenges to their well being.

For Israelis, the war has also taken a heavy toll, with soldiers and civilians enduring loss and
trauma. Families face the heartbreak of losing loved ones to violence by sending them to
defend their country. This has been something very tough to deal with for israelis.The
constant conflict has left many grieving, struggling to find peace in an unending war.

This conflict is not just a political or territorial issue, it is a deeply human tragedy. Both Israelis
and Palestinians have experienced suffering, and the cycle of violence has left both sides
yearning for peace. Understanding the history, acknowledging the pain of those affected, and
promoting dialogue are essential steps toward resolving this longstanding conflict.