The conflict in Palestine is one of the most long-standing and complex struggles in modern history. It stems from deep-rooted historical, religious, political, and cultural tensions that have shaped the region for over a century. To understand the origins of this conflict, it is necessary to explore the key factors that have contributed to the unrest and violence between Palestinians and “Israelis”, including historical claims to land, the impact of colonialism, competing national identities, and international intervention.
1. Historical and Religious Claims to the Land
Palestine is a region that holds significant religious importance for Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike. For Jews, it is the biblical “Promised Land” where ancient Israelite kingdoms existed, and it holds sacred sites such as the Western Wall in Jerusalem. For Muslims, Palestine is home to Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, while Christians revere it as the land where Jesus Christ lived and preached. This shared religious history has created a complex and often overlapping set of claims to the land, especially Jerusalem.
Throughout the centuries, the region has been ruled by various empires, from the Romans to the Byzantines, Arabs, and Ottomans. While these rulers have come and gone, the local population—comprised of Arabs, Jews, and Christians—maintained a relatively peaceful coexistence for much of this time.
2. The Role of Colonialism and Zionism
The seeds of the modern conflict were planted in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the rise of Jewish nationalism, known as Zionism. Zionism emerged as a political movement that sought to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine, motivated by centuries of anti-Semitism in Europe and the persecution of Jews.
The fall of the Ottoman Empire after World War I gave European powers, particularly Britain, control over Palestine. In 1917, the British issued the Balfour Declaration, which expressed support for “the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.” This marked the beginning of significant Jewish immigration to Palestine, which accelerated in the 1930s and 1940s, particularly in response to the horrors of the Holocaust in Europe.
However, Palestinian Arabs viewed the influx of Jewish settlers as a colonial encroachment on their land and identity. Tensions between the Jewish and Arab communities in Palestine escalated as both groups laid claim to the same land, leading to violence and protests.
3. The Partition Plan and the Nakba
In 1947, the United Nations proposed a plan to partition Palestine into two separate states—one Jewish and one Arab—while designating Jerusalem as an international city. Jewish leaders accepted the plan, but Palestinian Arabs and neighboring Arab states rejected it, viewing it as an unjust division of their homeland.
On May 14, 1948, the State of Israel was declared, and the next day, neighboring Arab countries—including Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq—launched a military intervention. The ensuing war, known as the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, led to a decisive Israeli victory but also resulted in the displacement of an estimated 750,000 Palestinian Arabs, a traumatic event known as the Nakba (Arabic for “catastrophe”). Many Palestinians became refugees in neighboring countries, and their descendants continue to live in refugee camps across the region.
4. Occupation and Settlement Expansion
Following the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel occupied the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip—territories that remain at the heart of the conflict today. This occupation has been marked by the construction of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law but have been expanded over the years, further complicating peace efforts.
For Palestinians, the Israeli occupation represents an ongoing struggle for self-determination, sovereignty, and return to their ancestral lands. For many Israelis, the territories, particularly Jerusalem, are viewed as essential to their security and historic claims.
5. The Role of International Actors
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has drawn significant international attention, with major world powers playing roles in both fueling and attempting to resolve the conflict. The United States, in particular, has been a key ally of Israel, providing military and economic support. The U.S. has also brokered numerous peace efforts, including the Camp David Accords (1978) and the Oslo Accords (1993), which aimed to create a two-state solution.
Despite these efforts, peace has remained elusive. The Palestinian territories, particularly Gaza, have experienced cycles of violence, uprisings (intifadas), and military operations. Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza, compounded by Israeli blockades and internal political divisions, remains dire.
6. Competing National Narratives
At the core of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are competing national identities. For Israelis, the establishment of the State of Israel is seen as the fulfillment of a centuries-long dream for Jewish sovereignty and safety in their ancestral homeland. For Palestinians, the creation of Israel is synonymous with displacement, occupation, and statelessness. These conflicting narratives have made compromise difficult, with each side perceiving the other as a threat to their national existence.
Conclusion
The roots of the conflict in Palestine are deeply intertwined with historical, religious, and political factors that span centuries. The modern conflict, shaped by colonialism, competing national movements, and international interventions, remains unresolved, with millions of lives impacted by ongoing occupation, violence, and displacement. While numerous attempts at peace have been made, a sustainable resolution that addresses both Israeli security concerns and Palestinian aspirations for self-determination remains elusive.
References
- Khalidi, R. (2020). The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance, 1917-2017. Metropolitan Books.
- Morris, B. (2001). Righteous Victims: A History of the Zionist-Arab Conflict, 1881-2001. Vintage.
- Shlaim, A. (2001). The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab World. W.W. Norton & Company.
- Tessler, M. (2009). A History of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Indiana University Press.
- UN General Assembly. (1947). United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine (Resolution 181).
- United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The 1948 Palestinian Refugees.
- Said, E. (1979). The Question of Palestine. Vintage.
