Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Guide Note: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict is a dispute between the state of Israel and the Palestinians. At the heart of the conflict is the presence of two distinct national identities within the same territory.

In its modern sense, the conflict dates back to the 1917 Balfour Declaration, a British foreign policy statement recognizing the Israeli right to statehood, and subsequent administrative policies under the British Mandate of Palestine from 1920 to 1948. Though unease was evident and showed signs of growing during this period, it was not until Israel officially declared its sovereign statehood at the end of the 1948 Arab Israeli War that the polarization of the issue as we understand it today took place.

Most peace talks have focused on finding a two-state solution, meaning the formation of separate Israeli and Palestinian states. There are six issues in this debate that continue to cause conflict: the Division of Jerusalem , the Palestinian Refugee crisis and Palestinian Right of Return, borders, specifically those of The West Bank and Gaza Strip, security, Israeli Settlements, control of water, most of which come from the Golan Heights.

Negotiations for resolution have slowed since the violence of the Second Intifada and election of Hamas, a Palestinian opposition party considered a terrorist organization by Israel and other nations, in the Gaza Strip.

Fast Facts:

  1. Israeli casualties: 86 deaths, 1183 injuries
  2. Palestinian casualties: 1290 deaths, 6297 injuries
  3. The United Nations recognizes over 4.25 million Palestinian Refugees created as a result
  4. Most negotiations focus on a two-state solution
  5. Several scholars have suggested a single-state solution, where the rights of both parties are preserved under a single nation, may have greater chances for success

Key Issues:

  1. Division of Jerusalem
  2. The Palestinian Refugee crisis and Palestinian Right of Return
  3. Borders, specifically those of The West Bank and Gaza Strip
  4. Security and an end of violence
  5. Israeli Settlements
  6. Control of water, most of which come from the Golan Heights

Key Events:

  1. Balfour Declaration 1917
  2. British Mandate of Palestine 1920-1948
  3. 1948 Arab Israeli War and al Nakba
  4. Establishment of Israel and the PLO
  5. The Six Day War 1967
  6. The Yom Kippur War 1973
  7. 1982 Lebanon War
  8. The First Intifada 1987-1993
  9. The Oslo Peace Process
  10. The Second Intifada 2000

The Mahalo Top 7

  1. Wikipedia: Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
  2. BBC News: Country Profile: Israel and Palestinian Territories and Israel and the Palestinians
  3. ProCon.org: What Are the Solutions to the Israeli - Palestinian Conflict?
  4. Blog: Bitterlemons.org  Mike: Good site
  5. Blog: Norman G. Finkelstein
  6. AlanDershowitz.com: The Case Against Picking on Israel
  7. Haaretz: Israel Defense News

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