What Happened Between Israel And Palestine

The conflict between Israel and Palestine is deep, complex, and extremely polarizing. It’s also turned hot again following a recent flare up. This isn’t the first war between the two nations and it likely will not be the last.

Regardless of who claims victory, there are no real winners in war, only lessons to be learned. We are not experts in Middle Eastern affairs and we don’t claim to have any answers.

Like others, we watch in horror from the outside and can’t help but wonder what in the world happened? More importantly, we ask what can we learn from history and how can we use those lessons to pursue peace and happiness in the future?

Brief history of the conflict

The source of the Israel-Palestine conflict goes back to bliblical times. Some would say even further, suffice to say there is a lot history and bad blood.

We summarize some of the documented historical events below. We understand there are different accounts and opinions, and people may disagree on causes and effects. Our intent is not to take sides or to point blame, rather we seek to establish a general, high-level understanding of the conflict over time.

Ottoman times

Though we could go back further, we’ll start with relatively modern history. In the 19th century the region currently known as Israel and Palestine was under rule of the Ottoman Empire. At that time both Jewish and Arab populations coexisted. Late in 19th century, the Zionist movement pushed to establish a homeland for the Jewish people. This lead to tensions with Arabs in the region who felt threatened by the movement.

Formation of Israel

Following World War I, the British Empire gained control of the region under a League of Nations mandate. The Balfour Declaration of 1917 expressed British support for the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish people” in the region. The declaration fueled tensions and violence between Jewish and Arab communities. As Jewish immigration increased, so did Palestinian resistance to it.

The United Nations plan

In 1947, after World War II, the United Nations proposed a partition plan that would divide the region into separate Jewish and Arab states, with an international administration for Jerusalem. The plan was accepted by Jewish leaders but rejected by Arab leaders, further exacerbating the conflict. The State of Israel was officially established in 1948, leading to the first Arab-Israeli war.

The Palestinian exodus

The 1948 Arab-Israeli war, also known as the War of Independence, resulted in a mass exodus of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who were displaced from their homes. This had profound repercussions for Palestinians and tensions escalated further.

Six-Day War and aftermath

In 1967, the Six-Day War between Israel and its neighboring Arab states widened the conflict even more. Israel’s victory resulted in control of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights. Israeli control remains a central point of contention among Arab states and has fueled continuing conflicts.

Peace efforts and Oslo Accords

There have been several peace attempts such as the Oslo Accords of 1993. These accords outlined a framework for Palestinian self-rule in parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip and raised hopes for a peaceful resolution. However, peace efforts have been insufficient, plagued by a lack of trust, recurring violence, and unresolved issues regarding borders, refugees, and the status of Jerusalem.

Gaza Strip and West Bank

The Gaza Strip and the West Bank have remained focal points of the conflict, with different Palestinian factions governing each area. The Gaza Strip has been controlled by the militant group Hamas since 2007, while the West Bank has been under the control of the Palestinian Authority. The divide between these territories has hindered the establishment of a unified Palestinian state.

Lessons from history

As an outsider looking in, there are several important lessons we can learn from what’s happened.

The first is to be cognizant of divergent accounts and perspectives. Any event can be experienced, perceived, and interpreted differently. Where one side sees the rightful restoration of a promised land, the other side sees an unjust appropriation and occupation of an ancestral home.

The reality is both Israelis and Palestinians have deeply rooted historical ties to the region. Who is right or wrong depends on whom you ask. There is no single narrative that tells the whole story, so we should seek to understand before we jump to conclusions.

A second lesson is we should all agree on what is unacceptable and be accountable for our own actions. Countless civilians and innocent children have been killed on either side of the conflict. These are avoidable tragedies that are totally unacceptable regardless of who is at fault.

Both sides bemoan their losses, but the cries often morph into propaganda that incite retribution rather than peace. If leadership truly cared about their constituents they would do everything in their power to stop the violence. This includes leading by example and holding themselves (and their own people) accountable.

Third is understanding that absolute, unilateral resolutions will not work. Those who are are unwilling or unable to accept this are creating more problems than they solve. Eliminating a nation is not a viable solution, and neither is one nation dictating how and where another should live.

A viable solution will require compromise, mutual respect, and empathy from all parties involved. Not just Israel and Palestine, but neighboring Arab states and Western powers as well. Failure to include all stakeholders at the negotiation table will result in unresolved issues and incomplete mediation that will not stand the test of time.

Jumping to a conclusion

The Israel-Palestine conflict is a complex issue with many points of contention and we have barely scratched the surface in this post. One of the only things all sides can agree on is a comprehensive solution remains elusive.

Despite that, there are still important lessons we can and should learn from history. Perhaps most important is the need for empathy. Some irreconcilable differences cannot be avoided. And while we cannot control the thoughts or actions of others, we can certainly chose our own.

We can chose to understand we are all imperfect human beings, all with wants, needs, and goals, however different. We can chose understanding, to respectfully agree to disagree, and to find other common ground to move forward on together. This is a difficult path that requires compromise, but can lead to peace and happiness.

Or, we can chose a path that requires no listening, no understanding, and no compromising. This is obstinately digging into what we believe to the point of extremism, lashing out with indignance for beliefs that oppose our own. This is a path of toxic hatred that not only leads to death and destruction, but will ironically hurt ourselves more than others.

All easier said than done, especially from the safety of a keyboard thousands of miles away from the conflict. Some will mock our remedial knowledge of this conflict and say that we know nothing. They are probably right, but that doesn’t make us wrong. Rather than jump to a conclusion, we’d chose to stop, listen, and empathize until we could find a way to move forward together.

—

HWL