Unraveling the Layers of Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is an extremely complex, long-standing, and violent dispute between Israelis and Palestinians over land, identity, and self-determination; with each side pointing to their deep historical roots, culture, and existence in the region. Depending on who you ask, the time at which the conflict began will differ. However, for all practical purposes, let us use the early 20th century as the starting point; when Britain took control of Palestine following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.

While there were many other ethnic groups as well, the region was mainly home to a Jewish minority and an Arab majority. The real tensions emerged when Britain was tasked with establishing a "national home" for Jewish people in Palestine through the Balfour Declaration of 1917. The declaration, endorsed by the League of Nations in 1922, raised conflicting claims to the land. While Jews saw Palestine as their ancestral homeland and sought refuge from persecution, Palestinian Arabs also claimed the land and opposed the establishment of a Jewish state. The influx of Jewish immigrants, including those fleeing the Nazi Holocaust, further heightened tensions.

In 1947, the United Nations voted for the partition of Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem designated as an international city. While Jewish leaders accepted the plan, Arab leaders rejected it, leading to its non-implementation. In 1948, following Britain's withdrawal, Jewish leaders declared the establishment of the State of Israel. Arab countries, opposed to the creation of Israel, launched an attack the next day, triggering a full-scale war. This was the first Arab-Israeli War. Since then, the conflict has been marked by cycles of violence, territorial disputes, and failed peace initiatives. The issues at the core of the conflict include the borders between Israel and Palestine, the status of Jerusalem, the right of return for Palestinian refugees, Israeli settlements in the occupied territories, security concerns, and the recognition of each other's legitimacy.

To address the conflict and move towards a resolution, one proposed solution is the two-state solution. This is the sanest and fairest one by far. This solution envisions the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, alongside a secure Israel. When trying to resolve this conflict through such a solution, it is also extremely important to address the issue of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law. The removal or relocation of these settlements would be necessary to create a viable Palestinian state and reduce hostility in the region.

Additionally, it is crucial to address the security concerns and finally put an end to the seemingly endless cycle of violence. This would involve efforts to prevent Hamas, the militant group governing the Gaza Strip, from launching attacks on Israel. It would also require the return of hostages held by both sides and an end to the illegal blockade on the Gaza Strip, which has been in place for 16 years. To ensure the implementation and adherence to the agreement, an international body such as the United Nations could play a monitoring role. Violations of the agreement should be met with strong action by the international community, demonstrating a commitment to upholding the peace process.

It is important to note that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is highly complex, and there are various perspectives and proposed solutions. The two-state solution with Jerusalem as internationally administered is one possible approach, but it would require extensive negotiations, compromises, and cooperation from both Israelis and Palestinians, as well as support from the international community, to achieve a lasting and just resolution to the conflict. That being said, this approach is the most feasible one, and may be one of the only means to achieve long-lasting peace in that part of the Middle East.