Myth of Ancient Hatreds: The conflict is often mistakenly believed to be rooted in ancient religious hatreds, but it primarily stems from territorial disputes over the same land.
Early 1900s Onwards: The conflict dates back about a century, beginning in the early 1900s.
Ottoman Rule and Rise of National Identities
Diverse Region: Under Ottoman rule, the region was religiously diverse, mostly Muslims and Christians, with a small Jewish population.
Emergence of Palestinian Identity: The sense of Palestinian national identity began forming among ethnic Arabs.
Zionist Movement: In Europe, the Zionist movement emerged, advocating for a Jewish nation in their historic homeland in the Middle East.
British Mandate and Growing Tensions
Post-WWI Changes: The Ottoman Empire's collapse led to the British Mandate for Palestine, where Jewish immigration was initially allowed, causing tensions.
Jewish Militias and Holocaust Impact: Jewish militias formed to resist local Arabs and British rule; the Holocaust increased global support for a Jewish state.
UN Partition Plan and Arab-Israeli War
1947 UN Plan: Proposed division of British Palestine into Jewish and Arab states (Israel and Palestine) and international status for Jerusalem.
War and Refugee Crisis: Israel declared independence, leading to regional war. Israel expanded beyond UN plan borders, creating a large Palestinian refugee population.
Post-War Territorial Control: Israel controlled most territories except Gaza (Egypt) and West Bank (Jordan).
Arab-Israeli Conflict to Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
1967 War: Israel occupied Palestinian territories (West Bank, Gaza) and land from neighboring countries.
Camp David Accords: 1978 peace treaty with Egypt; return of Sinai to Egypt.
Shift to Israeli-Palestinian Focus: Peace with Arab states; ongoing Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.
Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and Hamas
PLO's Evolution: Initially sought all of British Palestine; later accepted land division.
Hamas Formation: Created in response to PLO's perceived secularism and compromise; committed to Israel's destruction.
Settlements and Intifadas
Israeli Settlements: Expansion into West Bank and Gaza, subsidized by the Israeli government, complicating peace efforts.
First Intifada (1980s): Palestinian uprising marked by protests and violence; Israeli heavy-handed response.
Oslo Accords (1990s): Attempted roadmap to peace, established Palestinian Authority.
Second Intifada (2000s): More violent than the first; shifted Israeli politics rightwards and led to increased security measures against Palestinians.
Current State and Challenges
Gaza Blockade: Israel's blockade after withdrawal, Hamas control, high unemployment.
West Bank Settlements: Continued expansion and impact on Palestinian life.
Apathy in Israel: Conflict seen as a distant issue for many Israelis; lack of political will for peace.
Future Uncertainty: Potential for further uprisings or collapse of Palestinian governance structures; recognition of untenable status quo.