The Israel–Palestine Conflict: History, Major Wars, and the Road to Peace

Understanding Palestine and the Dispute

The Israel–Palestine conflict is one of the world’s longest-running and most deeply emotional disputes. Palestine is the name given to a region in the Middle East that includes the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. Both Israelis and Palestinians lay claim to this land due to historical, cultural, and political ties, making it a core source of friction. Over the decades, this dispute has sparked wars, uprisings (known as intifadas), failed peace talks, and ongoing humanitarian crises.

The region carries immense religious importance for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Most Arab nations back the Palestinian position, while Israel maintains that these areas are an integral part of its historic homeland. Jerusalem lies at the center of the conflict, as both parties claim it as their capital. To truly understand this struggle, one must look at overlapping histories, migrations, and competing national identities.

 

Early History and Shared Heritage

For centuries, Palestine was home mainly to Arab communities, with a smaller Jewish population living alongside them. Under Ottoman rule, which lasted until the early 20th century, the area was predominantly agricultural, with trade links stretching to Damascus, Cairo, and ports on the Mediterranean. Despite religious differences, Arab and Jewish communities often shared traditions such as food and seasonal markets, while keeping their distinct faith practices.

This coexistence fostered a deep sense of belonging for both peoples. The fertile land, olive groves, and sacred sites became deeply embedded in the identity of those who lived there — a key reason why each community feels inseparably tied to the land.

 

Collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the British Mandate

World War I brought the downfall of the Ottoman Empire, reshaping the Middle East. In 1920, under the League of Nations, Britain assumed control of Palestine through the British Mandate (1920–1948). This era saw the introduction of European-style governance, land registration, and legal reforms that often disrupted traditional Arab landholding systems.

Britain issued conflicting promises — backing Arab independence for wartime support while also endorsing the creation of a Jewish homeland. This dual commitment sowed deep mistrust. Jewish communities saw hope in the promise of refuge from European antisemitism, while many Arabs feared dispossession and loss of political autonomy.

 

The Balfour Declaration and Its Consequences

In 1917, the British government released the Balfour Declaration, expressing support for creating 'a national home for the Jewish people' in Palestine, while also emphasizing the protection of the rights of the region’s existing non-Jewish communities communities should not be harmed. The statement’s ambiguity created a contradiction Britain never resolved.

To Jews escaping persecution, it represented hope and security; for Palestinians, it signaled the onset of fears over displacement. The sharp rise in Jewish immigration during the 1920s and 1930s fueled tensions, leading to riots, strikes, and cycles of retaliatory violence.

 

Jewish Immigration and Growing Tensions

From the 1920s through the 1940s, waves of Jewish immigrants — many escaping Nazi oppression — settled in Palestine. By 1947, Jews comprised about 30% of the population. This demographic shift alarmed Arab leaders, who feared losing majority status.

The Arab Revolt of 1936–1939 embodied these fears, with Palestinians protesting British rule and expanding Jewish land ownership. Britain tried to restrict immigration via the White Papers, but the Holocaust created strong international pressure to admit more Jewish refugees.

 

The UN Partition Plan of 1947

In 1947, the United Nations proposed splitting Palestine into two states — one Arab and one Jewish — with Jerusalem placed under international governance. Jewish leaders accepted the plan, but Arab leaders rejected it, viewing the land division as biased, especially since Jews, despite being a minority, were allocated more territory.

Without consensus, violence erupted. Militias from both sides clashed, and neighborhoods became battlegrounds. Britain withdrew, unwilling to enforce the plan militarily, leaving the region on the brink of full-scale war.

 

Birth of Israel and the 1948 War (Nakba)

On May 14, 1948, Israel declared independence. Within hours, armies from five Arab nations invaded, sparking the First Arab–Israeli War. Israel survived and expanded beyond the UN’s proposed borders.

For Palestinians, this period — known as the Nakba (“catastrophe”) — saw about 750,000 people displaced. Many sought refuge in neighboring Arab countries but were often denied citizenship, fueling a decades-long refugee crisis. Meanwhile, Israel absorbed Jewish immigrants from Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, reshaping its population.

 

The 1967 Six-Day War and Occupation

In June 1967, during the Six-Day War, Israel battled Egypt, Syria, and Jordan, seizing the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza, the Golan Heights, and the Sinai Peninsula. This event marked the beginning of Israel’s military control over Palestinian territories.

Initially described as temporary security measures, Israeli settlements gradually became permanent civilian towns, reinforcing Palestinian fears that the occupation would be indefinite.

 

The PLO and the First Intifada

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was established in 1964 and soon became recognized by the Arab League as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. Its activities ranged from armed resistance to political diplomacy.

In 1987, widespread frustration erupted into the First Intifada — a grassroots uprising involving protests, strikes, and confrontations with Israeli forces. Images of stone-throwing youths became global symbols of Palestinian resistance, while Israel’s crackdown drew international concern.

 

The Oslo Accords and Their Collapse

The 1993 Oslo Accords offered a breakthrough: Israel recognized the PLO, and the Palestinian Authority (PA) was created to govern parts of the West Bank and Gaza. However, the accords divided the West Bank into Areas A, B, and C, leaving Palestinians with fragmented territories surrounded by Israeli-controlled zones.

The 1995 assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, along with ongoing mistrust, derailed momentum. Key issues like Jerusalem, refugees, and settlements were never resolved.

 

The Second Intifada and Hamas’ Rise

Between 2000 and 2005, the Second Intifada brought intense violence — suicide bombings, Israeli airstrikes, and military operations. During this time, Hamas, an Islamist movement rejecting Israel’s legitimacy, gained political strength. In 2007, Hamas seized control of Gaza following electoral victory, prompting Israel and Egypt to impose a blockade.

The blockade, viewed by Palestinians as collective punishment, has devastated Gaza’s economy and infrastructure.

 

Settlements, Barriers, and Blockades

Currently, more than 700,000 Israelis live in over 150 settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Movement restrictions through checkpoints and the separation barrier limit Palestinian access to resources, jobs, and services.

While most of the world deems these settlements illegal under international law, Israel disputes this, citing security needs and historical connections.

 

Jerusalem and Sacred Sites

Jerusalem’s Old City houses the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Temple Mount — among the most sacred places in Islam and Judaism. Israel’s annexation of East Jerusalem after 1967 is not recognized internationally, while Palestinians envision it as their future capital.

Various peace proposals have suggested shared governance or land swaps, but none have been implemented.

 

The Refugee Crisis

More than 5.9 million Palestinian refugees are registered with the UN, many living in overcrowded camps in Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Gaza, and the West Bank. Limited access to clean water, electricity, and healthcare worsens their living conditions.

The “right of return” remains a major sticking point: Palestinians see it as a fundamental right; Israel fears it could end the country’s Jewish majority.

 

The Two-State Solution and Present-Day Challenges

The most widely discussed resolution is the Two-State Solution — Israel and Palestine coexisting as independent states with secure borders. However, settlement growth, political fragmentation, and recurring violence hinder progress.

Humanitarian needs, particularly in Gaza, remain urgent. Aid alone cannot solve the crisis; only a political agreement addressing the core disputes can create lasting peace.

 

Conclusion

The Israel–Palestine conflict is a struggle over history, identity, and territory. Decades of warfare, displacement, and failed negotiations show that force alone cannot bring resolution. Sustainable peace will require mutual recognition, compromise, and sustained global engagement.

Whether achieved through two states, a confederation, or another arrangement, the ultimate goal should be equal rights, dignity, and a secure future for both peoples.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Why is the Israel–Palestine conflict considered one of the longest-running disputes in modern history?
Because it spans over a century of competing national movements, overlapping territorial claims, and deep-rooted cultural and religious connections to the same land. This history has resulted in repeated wars, uprisings, and failed peace initiatives.

2. What role did the Balfour Declaration play in the conflict’s origins?
Issued in 1917, the Balfour Declaration expressed British support for a Jewish homeland in Palestine while also stating that the rights of existing non-Jewish communities should be protected. Its vague language created tensions that contributed to long-term mistrust between Arabs and Jews.

3. Why is Jerusalem so central to the Israel–Palestine dispute?
Jerusalem holds religious significance for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Both Israel and the Palestinians claim it as their capital, and control over its holy sites has been one of the most sensitive and unresolved issues in peace talks.

4. What is the Two-State Solution and why hasn’t it been achieved?
The Two-State Solution envisions Israel and Palestine as two separate sovereign nations with secure borders. It has stalled due to issues such as settlement expansion, political divisions, disagreements over refugees, and competing claims to Jerusalem.

5. How does the humanitarian situation affect the chances for peace?
Ongoing blockades, movement restrictions, and limited access to essential services in places like Gaza have created severe humanitarian crises.