Understanding the historical backdrop of these conflicts is essential to comprehending the persistent struggle for land, identity, and sovereignty in Israel and Palestine. To begin to understand what is happening today, we once again have to go back in time to WWI.
The collapse of the Ottoman Empire triggered a major reshuffling of territorial claims in the Middle East. The Ottoman Empire ruled the region since the 1500s. During WWI, the countries of Great Britain, France, Russia and even Italy sent diplomats to discuss the fate of Ottoman territory when the Great War was over. Great Britain and France were the strongest of the countries and they divided up the Ottoman Empire into essentially spheres of influence. Russia (who would soon break out in Revolution was given minimal territory and when the Tsar was overthrown and the Bolsheviks found the agreement, Lenin had the document published in newspapers branding Great Britain and France Colonial thieves. Italy & Greece were also given minor territories in Present day Turkey. Once again, we’re talking about The Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916, a secret pact between Britain and France, that divided Ottoman territories into spheres of influence, disregarding the region's complex ethnic and religious identities. This agreement was a classic case of colonial powers imposing arbitrary borders without considering the aspirations of the local populations. The boundaries established by the Sykes-Picot Agreement ignored the diverse and interwoven communities in the Middle East, sowing seeds of discord that would later contribute to various conflicts, including the Israel and Palestinian conflict.
The French mandate consisted of the territories of Lebanon and Syria. French soldiers were at first welcomed into Lebanon but in Syria, the French was met with strong resistance. In order to hopefully maintain their control longer, the French divided Syria into 6 different states. Giving local leaders some autonomy in the hopes they would rise up against them. The British took over control of Palestine and an area known as Mesopotamia where they created the country of Iraq. Transjordan was also a British protectorate. Don’t forget at one point Egypt was part of the British empire. Egypt gained their independence in 1922 but Britain maintained control over the Suez Canal until 1957. Controlling territory in this region was critical. Additionally, a significant amount of territory in the Arabian Peninsula fell under the control of Ibn Saud, who founded the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. You can understand why he made the agreement he did with the United States that we discussed in our last episode.
I would be remiss, if I didn’t discuss The Balfour Declaration of 1917. That was a pivotal moment in the history of Palestine, as it marked the British government's support for the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in the region. At the time, Palestine had a predominantly Arab population, and the declaration stirred hope among Jewish communities worldwide. However, it also generated anxiety and opposition among the Arab population in Palestine, who were concerned about the potential loss of their land and identity.
The declaration was seen by Jews as a significant step towards the realization of their national aspirations, but it created a sense of betrayal among Arabs, who felt that their own nationalist aspirations were being overlooked. This conflicting dynamic between Jewish and Arab communities set the stage for future disputes and animosity.
The British found themselves trying to balance the conflicting promises made to both Jews and Arabs, leading to increased tensions and confrontations.
As Jewish immigration to Palestine increased, fueled by rising anti-Semitism in Europe, the demographic shifts intensified the conflict over land and resources. The population of Palestine saw dramatic growth, expanding from approximately 700,000 inhabitants in 1922 to about 1,800,000 by 1945. Notably, the Arab population doubled, while the Jewish population increased tenfold.
The British authorities struggled to maintain order and peace, often finding themselves caught between the competing demands of the Jewish and Arab populations.
World War II and the Holocaust had a profound impact on Jewish migration to Palestine. The genocide of six million Jews during the Holocaust highlighted the urgent need for a safe haven. European Jews, who had faced extreme persecution, looked to Palestine as a refuge where they could rebuild their lives and find security.
This influx of Jewish immigrants created additional pressure on British authorities in Palestine, who were already struggling to manage the conflicting demands of Jewish and Arab communities. The British government imposed immigration limits in an attempt to maintain balance, but these restrictions were often circumvented by Jewish organizations committed to bringing Holocaust survivors into Palestine.
The post-war period saw an escalation of tensions as Jewish and Arab communities vied for control and recognition. The dramatic demographic changes and the heightened political advocacy by Jewish groups set the stage for the UN Partition Plan and the subsequent creation of the State of Israel in 1948.
Now, The United Nations proposed a partition plan in 1947 to resolve the competing nationalist aspirations in Palestine by creating separate Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem designated as an international city. This proposal was met with divergent reactions: Jewish leaders accepted the plan, viewing it as a crucial step toward statehood, while Arab leaders rejected it, seeing it as an unfair division of their homeland. Despite the opposition from the Arab side, the plan set the groundwork for the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. President Truman and The government of the United States immediately recognized the state of Israel. The announcement of Israel's creation sparked immediate conflict in the region, leading to the first Arab-Israeli War. This war resulted in significant territorial gains for Israel and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, a crisis that has continued to impact regional dynamics. The establishment of Israel marked a pivotal moment in Middle Eastern history, reshaping the geopolitical landscape and escalating tensions that persist to this day.
The three major monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Island all have strong ties to the city of Jerusalem. Wars have been fought for centuries over the holy land. While the UN’s Partition Plan called for the creation of a Palestinian state as well, The Arab-Israeli War of 1948 led to substantial territorial shifts, including the annexation of the West Bank by Jordan and the Gaza Strip by Egypt. These changes further complicated the geopolitical landscape and heightened regional tensions. The conflict also resulted in a large number of Palestinian refugees, whose displacement has remained a contentious issue and a significant source of friction between Israel and neighboring Arab states.
As Arab nationalism grew, so did the support for Palestinian liberation movements, which received backing from various Arab governments. This era saw the rise of prominent Palestinian groups that sought to reclaim their homeland through armed struggle, further escalating hostilities. The newly established State of Israel, facing existential threats from surrounding countries and internal unrest, adopted strict security measures and military responses to defend its sovereignty and to protect its people.
The conflict between Israel and Gaza is a result of long-standing historical, territorial, and political tensions. Since the establishment of Israel in 1948, the region has seen multiple wars and ongoing skirmishes, with significant battles occurring in 1948, 1967, and 1973. The Gaza Strip, a densely populated and strategically important area along the Mediterranean coast, has often been at the center of these tensions. Governed by Hamas since 2007, Gaza has faced a severe blockade by Israel and Egypt, significantly impacting daily life and contributing to frequent flare-ups of violence. Israel believes this blockade is necessary in order to protect itself from terrorism. Food was even limited getting into Gaza and at one point there were studies for the bare minimum amount of calories citizens of Gaza needed to survive. The electricity and water supply of Gaza is controlled by Israel. After the attack on Oct. 7, 2023 all crossings into Gaza were closed. Today 70% of the population of Gaza is under 30 years old. Gaza is 25 miles long. The UN considers Palestine a state. As of June 2024 146 countries recognize Palestine as a state but the US and most of the G20 countries don’t consider Palestine to be a state.
Hamas, is considered a terrorist organization by Israel and many Western countries, has been involved in numerous armed confrontations with Israel. Hamas is not the only ruling power of the Palestinian People. The PA or the Palestinian Authority was once the voice for all of Palestine but after the death of Yasser Arafat in 2004, the current leader of the PA is Mahmoud Abbas. The election of 2006 in Palestine brought additional political division to the area when Hamas was given authority over Gaza and the PA remained in control of the West Bank. 2.2 million people live in Gaza. Over 3 million people live in the West bank and there are over 6 million Palestinians living all over the world.
On. Oct 7th, Hamas killed 1400 people in southern Israel. It was the largest mass murder of Jewish people since the Holocaust. Israel mounted its defenses to secure the hostages taken from Israel into Gaza and to defend itself from Hamas’ brutal act of aggression. The war continues to this day and Israeli hostages still remain in Gaza. The conflict we see playing out today can trace its roots to back room deals, letters with promises of support for a homeland to both sides on the same land. You take into account the number of deaths of Palestinians which is over 44,000, many of whom are women and children. You look at the fact that 70% of the Palestinian population is under the age of 30. The impact that this conflict will have on both sides for decades to come is concerning. You look at the fact that numerous groups and event governments within the region have called for the death of Israel. How do you begin to sow the seeds of peace? How do you have groups that shed blood now coexist in peace? In the words of the Dalai Lama “Peace is not just mere absence of violence. Peace is, I think the manifestation of human compassion.”
