You clashes between Israel and Palestine were more intense from the end of the 19th century onwards, when the Jews, tired of exile, began to express the will to return to their land, hitherto inhabited by Palestinians, but in the domain of ottomans.
The name of the Jewish ideal of returning to one's homeland is known as Zionism (the search for the Promised Land).
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origin of the conflict
You conflicts between Israel and Palestine – societies that have the same ethnic origin – have their origin in the ancient clashes between Arabs and Israelis.
The disputed area is located in the Middle East, between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, with a main focus on the city of Jerusalem (place where religious tourism has a strong predominance, as it is considered a sacred place for several religions, such as Islam and the Judaism).
Until the beginning of First World War
In 1914, Palestine was under the control of ottoman empire. After the end of the conflict and with the end of this Empire, the administration of the region was in charge of the England.For Jews, the region is called "Holy Land" and "Promised Land", but the place is considered sacred by both Muslims and Christians.
Causes of conflict
It can be said that the causes of the conflict are distant. Based on the year zero or the year in which Jesus was born.
The region of the Kingdom of Israel, where the Jews lived, was dominated by the Roman Empire. In 70 d. C., the Jews were expelled by the Romans to North Africa and Europe.
A few years later, around 130 AD. C., the Jews try to retake the place, but are defeated, once again.
Over the centuries, all peoples who lived in the region, regardless of religion, became known as Palestinians.
This region is claimed by the Jews because they occupied that space until their expulsion by the Roman Empire.
With the advancement of zionist movement (search for the Promised Land), in the 19th century, a significant number of Jews migrated towards Palestine. Such a movement was created by the Hungarian Theodor Herzl (1860-1904). He advocated that home for Jews should be in “Zion” or the land of Israel (Palestine). In this way, the Jews would have a home like all other peoples.
the conflict
During the Second World War (1939-1945), about 6 million Jews were killed in concentration camps. With the end of the conflict, Zionist Jews began to pressure the foundation of the jewish state.
It is estimated that until 1946, Palestine was inhabited by approximately 1.2 million Arabs and a little over 600,000 Jews.
After this conflict, the Jewish migratory flow intensified and they began to gain greater diplomatic influence, mainly due to events involving the Nazi germany and by holocaust.
A United Nations Organization (UN) was in charge of resolving the situation, carrying out the partition of Palestine in 1947 and establishing a dual state between the two nations.
The Jews had 57% of the territory and the Arabs (who were the majority), had 43%, thus founding, in May 1948, the State of Israel.
The capital, Jerusalem, would belong to both and would be under the international administration of the UN.
However, the Arabs were dissatisfied with the determinations and did not accept it. They started an offensive against the State of Israel in the same year of its creation (1948).
This conflict was called First Arab-Israeli War. The allied countries against the Jews were: Lebanon, Syria, Transjordan (now Jordan) and Egypt.
These countries were opposed by the Jews, who were supported by the United States – a country with diplomatic and military strength. With that, Israel expanded its territory, occupying new areas belonging to the Palestinians, who were left without their areas.
Galilee and other areas got the Jews, Jordan got the West Bank and Egypt dominated the Gaza strip.
Such events became known worldwide as the Palestinian question: a whole nation left without its territory.
The extent of Israeli land now occupies 78% of the area destined for Palestine. This result was not questioned by the international community.
In 1964, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), a group that aims to fight for the rights of Palestinians.
Six Day War
In June 1967, began the Six Day War, with the reaction of Arab countries that were against the creation of the State of Israel.
This conflict yielded victories for Israel, which went on to occupy, in just six days, the Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula, West Bank and the Golan Heights, in Syria.
About 500,000 Palestinians flee and the UN Security Council validates Resolution 242, which makes it unacceptable obtaining territories with the use of force, in addition to the right of all states in the region to coexist peacefully.
The Arabs try to recover the lost territories, in 1973, in Yom Kippur War (jewish holy day). However, Israel wins again.
Only in 1979, with the Camp David Accords (peace agreements), which Egypt and Israel seal an agreement. Israel returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt, which recognized the representativeness of the State of Israel. Egypt was the first Arab country to recognize the State of Israel.
The Influence of the Bible
The fact that Jews wanted to settle in the Palestine region is based on biblical sources.
They consider the region between Africa and the Middle East (Palestine) to be God's promised land.
The sacred area currently comprises: State of Israel, Palestine, West Bank, West Jordan, southern Syria and southern Lebanon.
This is the justification of the Zionist Jews who claim the total occupation of the territory.
Following biblical lines, God's promise would include the Arabs as well. For they claim that Abraham's son Ishmael is his ancestor.
In addition to the fact that the claim of the Palestinians is based on the right to occupation.
The occupation of Palestine
Several peoples invaded and occupied the region of Palestine, such as the Canaanites, Phoenicians It is amorites.
Roman rule lasted around 64 BC. W. to 634 d. C., when the Arab conquest marks the beginning of 13 centuries of Muslim permanence in Palestine. Palestine has been the target of several crusades.
The Ottoman occupation lasted from 1517 to 1917. After some invasions, in 1917 Palestine began to be subordinated to England.
Such submission lasted until February 1947, when England delivered most of its military equipment to the Zionist groups.
Conflict between Israel and Palestine in the 21st century
Terrorist attacks continue, with thousands of Arabs resorting to refugee camps all around the world.
Israelis have control over many natural resources, such as water. Many issues hinder the creation of the State of Palestine.
Palestinians claim:
- Autonomy of the Palestinian State;
- Demand the withdrawal of Israelis from Palestinian territories;
- They aim for the future Palestinian State to have its frontier configuration prior to 1967;
- They want the return of 10 million refugees.
In return, the State of Israel claims full command of the city of Jerusalem.
With the creation of the State of Israel, thousands of Palestinians lost their homes. With that, the Palestinian movement regrouped in the West Bank and Gaza (controlled by Jordan and Egypt) and in refugee camps in other Arab countries.
Around 1964, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was formed, which launched attacks against Israel and Lebanon. As well as attacking Israelis in Europe.
Around 1987, the first Palestinian revolt against the Israeli occupation took place. It lasted for years and killed hundreds of people.
This revolt triggered the signing between the PLO and Israel of the Oslo Peace Accords (1993). In them, Palestine renounces violence and recognizes Israel's right to exist. However, such recognition was never truly accepted.
In 1994 was founded the Palestinian National Authority (ANP), a result of the Oslo Peace Accords, which fulfills the function of representing the Palestinians in international events. The president is elected by direct vote and chooses the prime minister and the rest of the members of his cabinet.
However, East Jerusalem (considered by the Palestinians as their historic capital) is not included in the agreements, becoming the most controversial issue in the conflict.
In 2000, Palestine attacked the region again, an action that increased the violence. Since then, the conflict has continued.
There are several points that prevent a peace agreement, for example, the delay in creating a Palestinian state, Israel's barrier to Gaza, Israeli settlements illegal in the West Bank and the dominion of Jerusalem.
It is important to emphasize that the UN considered Palestine as a non-member observer state (2012). Such consideration has allowed Palestinians to participate in international debates. However, the State of Palestine was not created.
With the construction of Israeli settlements in the West Bank (which reduces the Palestinian territory), the anger among Palestinians increases.
Currently, tension is constant in the Gaza Strip. Cities are destroyed and deaths keep happening.
israel wall
The government of Israel, in 2002, began the construction of a wall in the West Bank, which passes around and inside the Palestinian territories, with the justification of protecting Israel from possible attacks.
However, this wall makes it difficult to access places with arable areas.
Many people believe that the purpose of building the wall is to occupy a little more territory in the West Bank. Some estimates indicate that this wall once occupied about 9% of the territory of Palestine.
In addition, several Palestinian villages were isolated due to the construction of the wall, making their populations work as cheap labor for Israeli industries.
See too: The Jewish-Palestinian Question