A battle occurring for a little over a century continues to heat up, and it is not the Ukrainian-Russian conflict. Palestine and Israel are two “nations” that occupy the same area. The history of this conflict goes back to the collapse of the Ottoman empire in 1918.
After the end of World War I, the Ottoman Empire collapsed, which led the regions inside of it; to search for their own national identity. Many of the Ottoman regions were taken under control and abused by Alliance powers such as France and Great Britain. Palestine was one of these regions.
Before the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, many Jews felt that they did not belong in Europe. Antisemitism was rampant across the continent. Many Jews felt that the only way to feel a sense of belonging and grow a Jewish national identity was to create a Jewish nation. This was when author Theodor Herzl created the Jewish movement called Zionism. Zionists devised the plan for the Jewish occupation of Palestine. The British government, having control of Palestine, offered the region as a home for the Zionists with the Balfour Declaration in 1917. After 1917, the door flung wide open for Jewish immigrants to flock to Palestine to escape the pogroms of Europe and create a life of their own. The Jewish immigration was initially received well, but after immense tension and overcrowding, riots broke out in the 1920s, which caused the United Nations to step in. The United Nations divided the land unfairly in favor of the Jewish people, which sent the entire nation into flames. The Great War of 1948 took place immediately after the UN partition plan of 1917. The Arab Palestinians lost and were exiled from their homes, creating one of the most monumental refugee questions we face today.
With Russia invading Ukraine, we can’t help but surmise that Israel will indefinitely exile the Arab Palestinians. The Israeli fighting force, the IDF, “is sophisticated and technologically advanced, and far superior in tactics, weapons and ethics in comparison with other militaries across the Middle East.” (Katz). With a far superior military and the world’s attention being directed towards Russia, why wouldn’t Israel choose to expel their land of the Arab people? The answer is complicated…
Firstly, Israel is heavily aligned with the United States. If the United States chooses to declare war or intervene in the Ukraine conflict, the United States will not look favorably on the invasion of Palestinian territory by way of the IDF. The Jerusalem Post states “when America is strong, Israel is strong, and when America is perceived as being weak, Israel is perceived as being weak. Israel’s enemies know it, and constantly search for that vulnerability.” (Katz). The link between Israel and the United States is strong and Israel would only act if they had the approval of the United States of America right? Wrong.
With the invasion of Ukraine, Israel grows concerned about its borders. Israel will no longer be able to, “continue operating freely in Syria against Iranian entrenchment, or if Russia – in control of Syria – will now prohibit Israel from continuing its almost weekly forays across the border.” (Katz). This is a massive security concern for the Israeli government and not one they want to dismiss.
There are two plausible solutions the Israeli government seems to deem as feasible. The first of these solutions is to rid Arab Palestinians from all the Israeli territories and go to war with the neighboring Arab countries such as Syria. This would allow for the Israel-Palestinian conflict to have a bloody, but closed resolution. The supporters of this resolution seem to argue that Israel is beginning to care less and less about the ties with the United States because after Iran took a stand against the United States’ demands a few years ago, Israel began to realize that “America – a country once perceived to be the moral and military policeman of the world – is no longer respected.” (Katz).
Others argue that the vulnerability at Israel’s borders will require their attention to be wrenched away from exiling the Arab Palestinians towards creating peace with the Arabs. Thus, Israel will begin searching for a solution to the Palestinian refugee problem.
As of February 7th, it is reported that “Israeli and Palestinian public figures have drawn up a new proposal for a two-state confederation that they hope will offer a way forward after a decade-long stalemate in Mideast peace efforts.” (Agencies). Whether this two-state solution will materialize into a final solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict is up for debate, but I fear that it will not.
One of the main gripes in the Israel Palestine conflict is the constant smear campaign run by Israeli nationalists, not only in the country but the western world as well. Dima Khalidi, founder and director of Palestine Legal states, “This effort to specifically redefine anti-Semitism in a way that encompasses any criticism of Israel has gained ground in the last several years”.
This is a significant problem when trying to solve the problem. Many Arab Palestinians who have been exiled from their homes and protest Jewish immigration to their native land are referred to as Anti-Semitic when the problem has nothing to do with the fact that Israel is a Jewish nation, but rather the fact that the Jewish nation is exiling Arabs from their homes. Notable figures from the western world fear to speak up in the face of these atrocities because they will be called a “Neo-Nazi” or “Anti-Semitic”. Prominent figures such as “Emma Watson and Mark Ruffalo have faced intense backlash for speaking up for the rights of Palestinians”. (Aljazeera).
The conflict has ended millions of lives. If the conflict is to be resolved peacefully, both sides will need to enter a two-state solution that holds merit and is fair. The intervention of western powers should be limited. The shaming of those on either side of the conflict should be brought to a screeching halt. This conflict needs to be approached like a political dispute, not a religious dispute. Once a two-state solution is reached, we can finally close the chapter on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Sources Cited:
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-698570
https://www.aljazeera.com/program/upfront/2022/2/25/the-cost-of-speaking-out-for-palestinian-rights