Brief History of the Palestine/Israel Conflict

With another round of the bloody conflict in Palestine under way a brief overview of the history of the conflict seems useful. The continuing struggle over Palestine/Israel has, in one way or another been ongoing for more than a hundred years and shows little sign of ending any time soon. The conflict has had a major impact on the Middle East as well as the wider world and has lead to countless deaths and dislocations.

Before the late nineteenth century Palestine was another predominantly Arab region of the Ottoman Empire. Whilst there were sizeable Christian and Jewish populations, the majority were Muslim. As Jewish populations across Europe, in particular central and eastern Europe, suffered another wave of persecution the idea of Zionism gained ground. The Zionist goal was to create a homeland for the dispersed Jewish peoples. Since the distant origins of Judaism could be placed in Palestine this was the favoured choice for a homeland.

Over several decades an increasing number of European Jewish immigrants moved to Palestine and other groups started buying up land. The increasing numbers of new arrivals worried both the Palestine population and the Ottoman rulers who feared the European immigrants would not be fully loyal to the Ottoman Empire. At this point another Empire enters the story. When the First World War brought Britain into conflict with the Ottomans a promise was made that if the Arabs rose in rebellion the British Empire would ensure a sovereign Arab state. After this Arab rebellion and a British military campaign drove the Ottomans from the Middle East, the previous promises were forgotten and Britain and France divided the Middle East between them. In addition the 1917 Balfour Declaration stated Britain’s support for a Jewish homeland, contradicting the previous promise to the Arabs. As the British divided up territories for their own benefit, and with little attention to the peoples living there, immigration into Palestine continued to grow. Tensions between the various populations in Palestine also grew and led to clashes and violence throughout the 20s and 30s.

After Europe’s persecution of the Jews reached its horrific climax with fascism and the Holocaust the numbers of immigrants to Palestine only increased. With tensions continuing to rise between these new arrivals and the older inhabitants various armed groups were formed in response to inter-communal violence. After World War II, the British Empire was quickly collapsing and so prepared to withdraw from Palestine. As the British cut their losses without having found a solution to the growing troubles, the UN prepared a partition plan which would create a Jewish and Palestinian state once the British withdrew. Just before the British left the Jewish communities declared the state of Israel in 1948. As Israel established itself the surrounding Arab nations, who didn’t accept the division of Palestine, invaded the new country.

In the chaos of war and the creation of a new state hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled amid vicious fighting and massacres. The Palestinian refugees fled into the surrounding countries and for the most part have stayed there in refugee camps ever since 1948. The violence which was unleashed across the Middle East by the creation of Israel also led several thousand Jewish refugees to leave the rest of the Middle East and head to the new state.

Between 1948-1973 there were various wars between Israel and the Arab states. Whilst Israel is a small nation it is fully armed and funded by the Western powers and so has always had a strong army. The small size of the country also favours defence. During these wars Israel occupied the West Bank of the river Jordan, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip which were meant to form a Palestinian state. As a state built largely by European and American immigrants, America and the West have always seen Israel as a natural strategic and business ally. This support has been vital for the survival of the small country.

After 1973 there has been little active support from the Arab states for the Palestinian peoples. Many of these countries left the Palestinians in the refugee camps and never granted them citizenship or attempted to make them a part of their states. The continued presence of Palestinian refugees often destabilised the Arab nations and were a factor in the Lebanese Civil War. Egypt and Jordan made some kind of peace with Israel which brought them support from the West. Syria, whilst technically still at war with Israel, has made no further moves.

Defeated and abandoned the Palestinians took up arms themselves. The Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) launched an armed struggle after the 60’s. The poor tactical decision to include attacks on civilians in this armed struggle lost the Palestinians much support and further isolated them. With the state of Israel established and relative peace on the borders the focus of the conflict switched to the occupied Palestinian territories. Over the last decades, Jewish settlers have been moving into the West Bank and building new settlements on the land. Whilst illegal under international laws, these settlements continue to grow and take up what was meant to be the land of the Palestinian state.

A series of Intifadas, uprisings, which start as spontaneous revolts by the Palestinian population have been the response. The First Intifada, from roughly 1987-91, was followed by a Second Intifada between 2000-05. Various peace deals and diplomatic efforts over the years have failed as the Palestinian side is divided and Israel enjoys the full support of the West. Efforts to create a Palestinian state are hampered by the military occupation and continuing Jewish settlement building which would make any Palestinian state weak.

Over the last decade the Palestinian cause has further divided. The West Bank is under the control of Fatah, which seeks to build a Palestinian state in what land is left. Whilst the Gaza Strip is run by Hamas, a more militant Islamic movement attempting to continue resistance. Israel and the West see Hamas as a terrorist organisation for its continued resistance. Therefore the whole population of the Gaza Strip has been under siege for several years and subject to repetitive attacks such as the current invasion.

The situation is still deadlocked as the continuing occupation breeds resentment and makes lasting peace impossible. Currently we have the Israeli state which sees the Palestinians as a military problem and continues to expand. The Palestinians, whilst having popular support, have few political allies and are divided amongst themselves. This perpetual conflict has had effects beyond a small patch of the Middle East. The conflict continues to destabilise and militarise the region. With its echoes of the Medieval Crusades, the West’s support for the predominantly European and American Israelis has fuelled feelings of abuse and injustice in the Muslim world with consequences being seen across the globe.

We can see the conflict as a failure of the logic of the nation state. The idea of the nation state, which requires some kind of ideal unity within a geographical area, simplifies the often complex reality of human habitation and movement. It is self evident that two nation states can not inhabit the same land and so long as we keep this idea there can only be deadlock or a final bloody conquest. Such nationalism can only bring the peace of desolation.