A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN CONFLICT

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Disputes, disagreements, or clashes are often referred to as "conflicts" when they cannot be resolved amicably between parties due to divergent aims, values, opinions, or other considerations. It can occur in a variety of settings, such as intimate partnerships, work environments, local communities, and on larger scale between nations. Conflicts can manifest in a variety of ways, including verbal spats, legal disputes, violent conflict, or even intellectual disagreements. Negotiation, mediation, or other techniques aimed at identifying points of agreement, coming to a compromise, or lessening the harmful effects of these differences are frequently used to resolve conflicts (Abu Laban, Y., & Bakan, A. B. ,2019).

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a long-standing and deeply complex dispute primarily centered on competing national identities and territorial claims in the Middle East, particularly in the region historically known as Palestine. This conflict has deep historical roots, with both Israelis and Palestinians having historical and religious connections to the land. It dates back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries when Jewish immigrants began to settle in Palestine, which was then under Ottoman rule (Ahmad, A. ,2022). The conflict intensified after the United Nations approved the partition plan in 1947, leading to the creation of the State of Israel in 1948 and this  resulted in the first Arab-Israeli war, which led to a displacement of Palestinian Arabs and the establishment of the State of Israel.

Beyond that, following the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel occupied the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, which are territories that the Palestinians consider part of their future state.The continued Israeli presence in these areas has been a major point of contention (Barak, O. 2015). However,  both Palestinians and Israelis public attitudes are currently characterized by two aspects, characterized by one Israeli analyst as “tactical hawks, strategic doves.” It is hardly unexpected that suicide bombs have a significant impact on Israeli public opinion. A vast majority of Israelis support severe counter terrorism measures, including the reoccupation of Palestinian territory and targeted killings (despite frequent American criticism of both strategies), in the face of ongoing terrorist assaults in Israeli cities. Of vital importance to understanding current dynamics is the fact that suicide bombings, especially the huge surge in bombings that occurred in March 2002, have convinced many Israelis who formerly believed otherwise that the Palestinians (or at least the Palestinian leadership) remain committed to the destruction of the state of Israel. However, this attitude is sometimes dismissed by non-Israelis, based on a belief that Palestinians by and large do not still seek a destruction of Israel. Whether or not it is true that Palestinian violence constitutes an existential threat to Israel, the fact is that this is widely believed by Israelis, and this belief constitutes a critically important reality (Blagden, D. ,2016).

Further more, the most complex part of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the territorial issues of the  contested holy city of Jerusalem. Important religious sites can be found in Jerusalem; such as the Temple Mount, the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Dome of the Rock, and the al-Aqsa Mosque. For Palestinians, Jerusalem is the symbol of their sovereignty, identity, and the capital city for the future Palestinian state. Therefore, any partition of Jerusalem would be unacceptable for the Palestinians. On the other hand, it is also difficult for Israel to completely hand over Jerusalem to the Palestinians since it also represents a historical link between the Jewish and their homeland. For both parties, Jerusalem is part of their respective identities that is not open to any discussion, negotiation, or compromise (Bar-Siman-Tov, 2010; Krieger, 2011).

Subsequently, several negotiations between Israel and Palestine that should have resulted in conflict resolution were unable to solve the conflict, starting when both parties signed the Oslo I agreement in 1993 and further diplomatic efforts in Oslo II in 1995, Camp David II in 2000, and other negotiations attempts, all of which have failed (Barak, 2015). The most recent of of these attempts was the Deal of the Century (The Peace to Prosperity plan or the Trump Peace Plan), unveiled by President Trump and PM Netanyahu in 2020. This situation has raised the question of whether the IsraelPalestinian conflict is beyond resolution in a sense that, although several negotiations efforts have been conducted, the conflict is still yet to be solved. Therefore, a survey will be conducted on an examination of Israeli and Palestinian Conflict.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is highly polarized, and finding a mutually acceptable solution remains a daunting challenge. It is a deeply sensitive and emotional issue for people on both sides, and it has far-reaching regional implications.Israel cites security concerns as a primary reason for its actions in the occupied territories. Palestinians have also engaged in violence, including suicide bombings and rocket attacks.  Additionally, the conflict has had significant humanitarian consequences, including displacement, economic challenges, and restrictions on movement for Palestinians. Human rights violations have been reported on both sides. Although, various proposals and peace plans have been put forward, but a comprehensive resolution to the conflict remains an ongoing international concern. However, it is in the light of these that the study seeks to critically examine Israeli and Palestinian conflict.

1.3  Objectives of the Study

The main purpose of this study is on a critical examination of Israeli and Palestinian Conflicts. Specifically, the study will;

1.        Find out the causes of the Israeli - Palestinian conflicts.

2.        Assess the effects of the  Israeli - Palestinian conflicts.

3.        Analyze the challenges in resolving the Israeli- Palestinian conflicts.

1.4 Research Questions

The following questions have been prepared for the study:
1. What are the underlying causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflicts?

2. What are the impacts and consequences of the Israeli-Palestinian conflicts?

3. What are the obstacles and difficulties involved in finding a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflicts?

1.5  Significant of the Study

A critical examination of Israeli and Palestinian conflict will be revealed to the government at various levels, humanitarians, media houses and  students in this study.  It will be revealed to the media house on how they can influence public perceptions, shape narratives, and impact international opinion. Additionally, the study will sheds light on humanitarian issues and the need for effective humanitarian interventions. Further more, subsequent researchers will use it as a literature review. This means that other students who may decide to conduct studies in this area will have the opportunity to use this study as available literature that can be subjected to critical review. Invariably, the result of the study contributes immensely to the body of academic knowledge with regard to an investigation of the effect of rape on social stigmatization of victims in India.

1.6 Scope of the study

The scope of this study is boarded on an investigation of the effect of rape on social stigmatization of victims in India. Theoretically, this study will find out the causes of the Israeli - Palestinian conflicts, assess the effects of the  Israeli - Palestinian conflicts and analyze the challenges in resolving the Israeli- Palestinian conflicts.

Geographically, the study will be delimited resident of  Israel and Palestine.

1.7 Limitation of the study

In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher experienced some constraints, which included time constraints, financial constraints, language barriers, and the attitude of the respondents.

In addition, there was the element of researcher bias. Here, the researcher possessed some biases that may have been reflected in the way the data was collected, the type of people interviewed or sampled, and how the data gathered was interpreted thereafter. The potential for all this to influence the findings and conclusions could not be downplayed.

More so, the findings of this study are limited to the sample population in the study area, hence they may not be suitable for use in comparison to other schools, local governments, states, and other countries in the world.

1.8 Definition of Terms

Conflict: a serious disagreement or argument.

Conflict resolution:is a social situation where the armed conflicting parties in a (voluntarily) agreement resolve to live peacefully