The conflict between Palestine and Israel is more than 100 years old. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Jews were targeted by Europeans. Due to this, a demand for a separate nation for Jews picked momentum. The area between the sea and the Jordan River, which is now known as the Palestine area, was sacred for Muslims, Jews, and Christians. This area was earlier by the Automun Empire, and most of the time it was controlled by Arabs or Muslim communities. The Jews also started settling down in this area, which was not liked by the local Arabs and Muslims who were already having a presence in this area.
After the First World War, Automun empire was finished, and it was Britain who started ruling/administrating the Palestine area. But before and during the first world war Britain promised so many things to Jews and Arabs, which they could not fulfill even partly.
Then 2nd world War happened, where there was widespread genocide of the Jewish community, and international pressure started building up for a separate nation for the Jews. At that time a plan was finalized that the area controlled by Britain should be divided among Palestinians and Jews.
In 1947, there was voting in the United Nations for the separate Palestine nations for both Jews and Arabs, and Jerusalem was made an international city. Jews accepted this proposal but the Arab community did not accept this, and this could not be implemented. On 14th May 1948, Israel was created, and with this local tension this area became a point of conflict, and next day the armed forces of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq attacked the area occupied by the Jews. This was the first Arab-Israel conflict, and after this war was over, the United Nations gave half of the land to the Arab nation.
The struggle for Palestinians started from this moment, and more than 7.5 lakh Palestinians took refuge in neighbouring countries. The struggle between Jews and Arabs continued, and then in 1967, the war between Egypt (Arab) and Israel happened. This six-day war was won by Israel, and the Gazza strip, Sinai area of Egypt, and from Jordan to the west bank (Eastern Jerusalem included) and Golan Hills of Syria came under the control of Israel. About 5 lakh Palestinians were displaced.
The last Arab-Israel war happened in Yom Kippur. Egypt and Syria started this war against Israel, and Egypt regained their area of Sinnai. In the year 1982, Israel withdrew their claim on the Sinnai area, but it retained their claim on the Gazza strip. After six years Egypt signed a peace accord with Israel and Jordon followed.
Let us go back to history
Jews believe that the place where Israel is located is the same place that god promised to give to their ancestor Abraham and his descendants. In the olden days, this area was constantly attacked by the forces today’s Iraq, Iran, Turkey, part of Syria where Syrian tribal were based, Babylon, Persia, Macedonia, and Rome. It was Roman who gave the name pf Palestine to this area.
During the rise of Islamic forces, this area (Palestine) came under the control of Arabs, and later it was won by European forces. In 1516 came under the control of Turkey, and lastly, it went to Britain during the First World War. After this, the last historical event was, as earlier mentioned, the UN’s resolution of November 1947, which was accepted by Israel and rejected by Arabs. After the birth of Israel in May 1948, Israel applied for membership of UN which was accepted one year later. Till December 2019, 162 member nation (out of 193) have given their recognition of Israel as an independent nation
In the year 1947, the General Assembly of the UN recommended that Western Galley (Sumaria and Judia mountain area) should be included in the Arab area. In fact, the area was divided in the year 1949, after the first Israel-Arab war. The two areas of Palestine are the West Bank ( which includes East Jerusalem) and the Gazza Strip. These areas are 45 kilometers apart. West Bank’s area is 5970 Sq kilometers and Gazza Strip is 365 Sq kilometers. West Bank is in between Jerusalem and the Eastern part of Jordan. Both Palestine and Israel claim Jerusalem as their original capital.
Gazza Strip is 41 Km long area and its width is between 6 to 12 Km. Gazza’s 41 KM long border touches Israel and Egypt, and it has a coastline of 40 km.
In 1967, Gazza Strip came under the control of Israel after the war. In 2005 Israel left its control on the Gazza Strip, but all the services in the Gaza Strip are under the control of Israel.
Presently Gazza Strip is under the control of Hamas, and Hamas does not recognize any Arab-Israel treaty.
What is the area of conflict between Israel and Palestine, as per Palestinians
- Delay in the formation of Palestine nation, Continuation of the formation of Jewish Colonies in the Palestine area, and security cordon by Israel.
- Hague-based International Court has also condemned Israel’s security cordon.
- In 2000 American President Bill Clinton tried for an accord between Israel and Palestine but it could not happen because there were too many areas of conflict, like Jerusalem, land and border, Jewish colonies, and the problems of Palestine refugees.
- Israel claims that Jerusalem is their territory, and it was its capital post-1967, but this does not have any recognition from any international forum.
- Palestinians want the pre-1967 war status should be maintained which Israel is refusing.
- There are more than half a million Jews are staying in Jewish colonies in the Palestine area, which Palestine wants Jews to vacate.
Now the main point of Israel is
- Today Israel and Palestine were British colonies before 1948.
- Before the British Colony, this area for 600 years was under the Automun Empire. Before that, it was Ayubid dynasty. Before that, it was under the Christian Empire.
- Israel says Even before the Alexendra III Macedonia empire, this area was under the Persian Empire.
- As per Israel, There was no Palestine area on this earth in the modern times since the times of Jesus.
- How then Arab people can claim the nation in the name of Palestine when there is no history of them in the world?
- The fact is that 99% areas of Arab and Central East Asia and 20% area of Africa are already under the control of Arabs, and Israel is left with only 1% area, and that too Arabs want to claim and forcibly occupy the part of area which rightly belongs to Israel.
Nobody knows how this conflict between Arabs and Israel will be resolved. Israelis are not ready to talk with any terrorist organization like Hamas on this, and they are determined that they will not tolerate Hamas in the area and will finish that terrorist organization.
Waiting for your views on this blog.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
16th November 2023