A brief history of the Israel-palestine conflict

Being of both Jewish and Christian descent, I have always had an interest in learning about religion and the conflicts that arise due to people’s beliefs. My interest in religious conflicts has led me to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Researching the Israeli-Palestinian conflict allowed me to view the conflict from both sides and form a well informed opinion on the topic. In this article I avoid bias and attempt to objectively present my research explaining the conflict that began seven decades ago.

 

The conflict present between Israel and Palestine can be dated back to the signing of the Balfour Declaration in November of 1917. The declaration called for the establishment of a “national home for Jewish people” located in Palestine. At the time of the declaration, Palestine was still under the control of the Ottoman Empire and Jews were a minority in the region. Although the Balfour Declaration had been signed in 1917, the mass migration of European Jews to Israel didn’t commence until the end of World War II. Seeking refuge from the oppression experienced in Europe during the late 1930s, Jews began to travel to Yishuv, the Jewish state in Palestine, and call for Israeli Independence. This insurgence of Israeli nationalism in Palestine led to the 1948 Palestine War, or the War of Independence in the eyes of the Israelis. As a result of the conflict, over 700,000 Palestinians were either forced from their homes or fled out of fear, in what would become known as the Palestinian exodus of 1948. Additionally, Israel gained independence and and occupied approximately 78% of Palestine’s land, including the holy city of Jerusalem.

 

The inclusion of Jerusalem in Israel’s borders sparked controversy because of the religious importance it holds in Judaism, Islam, and even Christianity. According the the beliefs of Islam, the Prophet Muhammad was said to have traveled to Jerusalem, establishing it as the first Qibla, or direction of prayer, for Muslims. Although the Qibla has since been relocated, the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock remain as some of the holiest locations in Islam. Conversely, Jerusalem has been the holiest city and ancestral homeland of the Jewish people since the 10th century B.C. Old Judaism beliefs claimed that Jerusalem was the center of the world, and the location in which God resided. Additionally, it is believed that the First Temple was built on the site currently known as Temple Mount. Located nearby Temple Mount is the Wailing Wall, the holiest place a Jew can pray. The holiest site in all of Judaism, however lies behind the wall in the center of the Dome of the Rock. Located in the center of this ancient mosque is the Foundation Stone, or the Pierced Stone as it is sometimes known. The significance of the Foundation Stone is still debated; if it was the site of the Holy of the Holies or of the Outer Altar. In addition to the Jerusalem’s holiness in the Old Testament, the city holds an important place in the beliefs found in the New Testament. Located in the Christian quarter of Jerusalem is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is said to contain the Golgotha, or the place where Jesus of Nazareth was crucified, and the tomb in which Jesus was buried and resurrected. Furthermore, located atop Mount Zion is the Cenacle, or the supposed site of the Last Supper and Pentecost. Jerusalem’s importance in the doctrines of three of the most widespread religions in the world has led to significant disagreements and violence regarding who should be in possession of such a holy location.

 

It is no surprise that Palestinian Muslims would be angry about the Jewish occupation of the majority of Palestine, including one of Islam’s holiest cities. That being said, should Jerusalem and its surrounding areas belong to Israeli Jews simply because of its religious significance in Judaism? Or was the establishment of a Jewish state in a majority Muslim region, unjust and unethical? Unfortunately, there is no simple or even complex answer to this conflict. Just as much as Palestinians living in the West Bank or in the Gaza Strip are anxious to reclaim the land taken from them some 70 years ago, Israelis are desperately attempting to protect their new home from their Muslim neighbors. This moral struggle over who should control the land that was formerly known as Palestine is a hotly debated topic in Western culture. The religious quarrel is often overlooked in favor of debates regarding the morality of essentially conquering Palestine, forcing an entire ethnic group from their homes. Opposition to this viewpoint claim that the occupation of Palestine was justified because of what had happened to European Jews during the 1930s and 1940s. Additionally, supporters of Israel viewed the establishment of the state as the creation of sanctuary for Jews from around the world.

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Traditionally, the U.S government has been a strong supporter of Israel, and with the election of President Trump, an outspoken defender of the Israeli government, the U.S.- Israel relationship will be stronger than ever before. In a speech delivered on December 6, 2017 President Trump acknowledged Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, reversing years of U.S. foreign policy regarding the status of the holy city. The status of the city has been a delicate topic for many years due to the claim that East Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Palestine, made by many Muslims living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The full effects of President Trump’s pro-Israeli tendencies has yet to be seen, but there is little doubt that his actions will have a profound impact around the world.