Israel-Palestine Conflict

Source: Indian Express
GS II: International Relation

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. Israel-Palestine Conflict timeline

Why in the News?

The October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel, in which more than 700 Israelis are estimated to have been killed.

News in Brief

• It is believed to be the Palestinian militant group’s response to attempts at achieving normalisation of relations between Israel and other Muslim countries in West Asia.
• The Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, which has also attacked Israeli forces in the north.
• UN Security Council has met behind closed doors in an emergency session amid the war between Israel and Hamas but failed to achieve the unanimity needed for a joint statement.
• Iran has denied any involvement in the unprecedented attacks launched by Hamas within Israel.

Israel-Palestine Conflict Timeline

The Israel-Palestine conflict is a long-standing and deeply rooted dispute over territory and sovereignty in the Middle East. Its origins can be traced back to the late 19th century, with several key milestones and events marking the evolution of this complex conflict:

• Late 19th Century
  • The Zionist Movement, led by Theodor Herzl, emerged in Europe.
  • It aimed to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine, then part of the Ottoman Empire, due to the historical and religious significance of the region to Jews.
• Balfour Declaration (1917)
  • During World War I, the British government issued the Balfour Declaration.
  • Declaration expressing support for the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine.
  • This declaration laid the foundation for future tensions.
• British Mandate (1920-1948)
  • After World War I, the League of Nations granted Britain a mandate over Palestine.
  • During this period, tensions between Jewish immigrants and Arab residents escalated as more Jews settled in the region.
• United Nations Partition Plan (1947)
  • The UN proposed a plan to partition Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem under international administration.
  • The plan was accepted by Jewish leaders but rejected by Arab leaders, leading to the first Arab-Israeli war.
• Declaration of the State of Israel (1948)
  • On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister, declared the establishment of the State of Israel.
  • This declaration was followed by attacks from neighboring Arab states.
• 1948 Arab-Israeli War
  • The Arab-Israeli War of 1948-1949 (also known as the War of Independence or Nakba) resulted in Israel’s victory.
  • The war displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, who became refugees.
• Six-Day War (1967)
  • Israel launched a preemptive strike against Egypt, Jordan, and Syria, resulting in a swift victory and the occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula, and Golan Heights.
  • This marked the beginning of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.
• First Intifada (1987-1993)
  • A Palestinian uprising against Israeli rule in the occupied territories began in 1987.
  • This uprising led to negotiations and the Oslo Accords in 1993, which created the Palestinian Authority.
• Second Intifada (2000-2005)
  • A violent uprising erupted after the collapse of peace talks, resulting in a significant loss of life and damage to infrastructure.
• Abrahamic Accords
  • The two countries signed a normalisation deal in 2020 that came into effect the following year.
  • Also brokered by the US, the “Abrahamic Accords” led to the UAE becoming the third Arab country, after Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994, to agree to formally normalise its relationship with Israel.
  • The two countries also signed a trade deal in May 2022.
• 11 days war
  • May 2021, Israeli police raided Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem
  • The third-holiest site in Islam, which set off an 11-day war between Israel and Hamas.
  • It killed more than 200 Palestinians and more than 10 Israelis.
• Recent Developments
  • The conflict continues to this day, marked by periodic flare-ups of violence, settlement expansion in the West Bank, disputes over Jerusalem, and efforts to restart peace negotiations.
  • The status of Palestinian territories and the right of return for Palestinian refugees remain central issues.

Way Forward

• Efforts to resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict through diplomacy, negotiations, and peace initiatives have faced numerous obstacles.
• The conflict’s deep historical and emotional roots make it one of the most challenging and enduring conflicts in the world.

Daily Current Affairs: Click Here

Rate this Article and Leave a Feedback