The dark history between Israel and Palestine
[객원 에디터 6기/ 이석현 기자] The Hamas terrorist attack on Israel this weekend comes amid the backdrop of a longstanding conflict over land and independence. It all started in the late 19th century with the emergence of the Zionist movement that sought to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine. The movement was catalyzed by Theodor Herzl, who organized the First Zionist Congress in 1897. By 1917, the Balfour Declaration, issued by the British government, expressed support for the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine.
The League of Nations offered Britain a mandate over Palestine after the First World War. During this time, tensions between Jewish and Arab communities began to escalate. The Arab population opposed the influx of Jewish immigrants, fearing the displacement of Arabs from their lands. The British struggled to maintain control over the increasingly volatile region. In 1947, the United Nations proposed a partition plan that would divide Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states, with an international administration for Jerusalem. While the Jewish leadership accepted this plan, the Arab states vehemently opposed it.
When the British mandate ended in 1948, the State of Israel declared its independence. Immediately after Israel declared independence, a coalition of neighboring Arab countries—Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, and Syria—invaded the new state. Israel managed to survive and expand its territory beyond the borders proposed by the UN. The war resulted in a significant displacement of Palestinian Arabs, with many becoming refugees. One of the most significant events throughout the Israel-Palestine conflict was the Six-Day War, which occurred when Israel preemptively attacked Egypt, Syria, and Jordan in 1967. The war ended in just six days, with Israel occupying the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza, the Golan Heights, and the Sinai Peninsula. The occupation of these territories remains a major point of contention today.
In the early 1990s, the Oslo Accords provided a glimmer of hope for peace. These agreements established a framework for negotiations between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), culminating in the establishment of the Palestinian Authority and the recognition of Palestinian autonomy in some regions in Gaza and the West Bank. Nonetheless, the optimism of the Oslo Accords was short-lived, as the Second Intifada, a Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation, erupted in 2000. The violence and unrest resulted in numerous casualties on both sides and further strained relations.
The Israel-Palestine conflict has witnessed multiple wars and conflicts in recent years, including the Lebanon War, the Gaza Wars, and the 2021 Israel-Gaza conflict. These events have continued exacerbating tensions, with international efforts to reach a lasting solution proving elusive. Ultimately, the history of the Israel-Palestine conflict is marked by decades of strife, violence, and suffering. The roots of the conflict run deep, and it is a situation that continues to defy resolution. In working toward a just and lasting peace, it is important to recognize the great historical grievances and sacrifices that have contributed to this enduring conflict.
Sources: ABC News, Reuters, BBC, Britannica
