Arab–Israeli conflict

The Arab-Israeli conflict is a long-standing struggle over territory and national identity. It involves tensions between the Jewish people and Palestinian Arabs. Jewish people view the region as the Land of Israel, their ancestral homeland. Many Arabs see the region of Palestine as essential Arab land. These competing claims have shaped the history of the Middle East for over a century. The conflict is deeply rooted in movements like Zionism and Arab nationalism.

National movements began to rise in the late 19th century. Zionism, a movement for a Jewish homeland, started with a congress in Basel in 1897. Meanwhile, Arab nationalism grew, with the Arab Club appearing in Paris in 1906. For nearly 400 years, the Ottoman Empire controlled the region. During World War I, the Ottoman Empire began to favor Turks over Arabs. This led many Arabs to support the Allied powers to gain independence. Sir Henry McMahon promised the Arabs an independent state if they revolted against the Ottomans. This revolt, led by T. E. Lawrence and Faysal, helped defeat the Ottoman Empire.

After the war, the British took control under the British Mandate of Palestine. In 1917, the British government issued the Balfour Declaration. This document expressed support for a Jewish national home in Palestine. However, it also stated that the rights of existing non-Jewish communities should not be prejudiced. This declaration upset the Arab world significantly. In 1920, the collapse of a proposed Arab Kingdom of Syria led to the rise of a specific Palestinian Arab nationalism. This period saw the first major confrontations between Arab and Jewish forces, such as the Battle of Tel Hai. Tensions grew as Jewish immigration increased and land was purchased.

Violence became more frequent during the Mandate years. In 1929, riots broke out in Jerusalem and spread throughout the territory. These riots included the Hebron massacre, where 67 Jews were killed. During that same week, at least 116 Arabs and 133 Jews were killed. By 1931, the Jewish population had reached 17 percent of the total. This percentage grew rapidly after the Nazis came to power in Germany. In response to Arab pressure, the British issued the White Paper of 1939 to limit Jewish immigration. This restriction increased tensions, as many Jewish refugees were forced to enter the territory illegally.

The United Nations eventually stepped in to find a solution. In 1947, the General Assembly appointed a committee called UNSCOP. This committee studied the situation for five weeks. They proposed a Plan of Partition, which suggested dividing the land into separate states. The UN adopted this plan on November 29, 1947, with 33 votes in favor and 13 against. All six un-member Arab states voted against the plan. Following the vote, civil war broke out between Jewish and Arab forces. The Haganah, a Jewish military group, gained control of much of the territory assigned to the Jewish state.

On May 14, 1948, the British Mandate expired. That same day, the Jewish People's Council declared the establishment of the State of Israel. The next morning, Arab regular armies entered the area, starting an international war. This 1948 war ended in 1949 with the Armistice Agreements. These agreements established a border known as the Green Line. Several major wars followed in the years after, including conflicts in 1956, 1967, 1973, and 1982.

These wars involved large-scale military movements and significant changes to the region's borders.

Despite the fighting, there have been many attempts at peace. In 1978, leaders met at Camp David to sign a peace treaty.

Later, in 1993, the Oslo Accords were signed at the White House.

These efforts included various diplomatic and economic accords. In 2002, the Arab League proposed the Arab Peace Initiative. More recently, the 2020 Abraham Accords helped calm relations between Israel and some Arab countries. However, conflicts with Palestinian factions have continued, including the First and Second Intifadas and the Gaza war following the October 7, 2023 attacks.