The Israel-Palestine Conflict: Finding Peace in the Middle East

financialexpress.com:

By Lt Col Manoj K Channan, Veteran

Jews have faced persecution for millennia, with the Holocaust marking one of the darkest periods in their history. Many Jews saw the establishment of Israel in 1948 as a refuge and a homeland where they could escape the persecution that had haunted them for centuries.

However, establishing a Jewish state in what was historically Palestine led to the displacement of many Palestinians, giving birth to one of the most protracted and bitter conflicts in modern history.

Jewish and Palestinian national movements sought sovereignty over the same territory, creating a complex tapestry of historical grievances, religious significance, and competing national narratives. Given this historical context, the question arises: Is there any logic in the persecution of the Palestinians by people who were themselves persecuted?

The establishment of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the blockade of Gaza are points of contention. Critics argue that such actions are inconsistent with the values of people who have been persecuted. However, defenders of Israeli policy highlight the country’s security concerns, pointing to acts of violence against Israeli civilians as justification for these measures.

The division between Hamas, which controls Gaza, and the Palestinian Authority, which has authority in parts of the West Bank, further complicates matters. Their rivalry has sometimes obstructed peace efforts and left Palestinians politically fragmented.

The Role of the UN. Over the decades, the United Nations has passed numerous resolutions to resolve the conflict. These include: –

UN General Assembly Resolution 181 (1947).  This proposed the division of British Mandate Palestine into Jewish and Arab