- Israel carried out a military operation in the occupied West Bank, similar to previous large-scale operations.
- This strike has resulted in Palestinian casualties.
The West Bank and Its Importance
- The West Bank is a landlocked territory in Western Asia that makes up the majority of the Palestinian territories.
- Jordan, the Dead Sea, Israel (south, west, and north), and the Mediterranean coast form its geographical borders.
- Anti-Semitism as State Policy: Several theocratic countries, notably the Arab world, the self-proclaimed caliphate ‘Turkiye,’ and even Pakistan, have publicly expressed anti-Jewish sentiment.
- Denial of Access: As a world micro-minority, Jews have been denied access to their country.
Understanding the Israel-Palestine Conflict
- Historical Background: The land at issue was ruled by the Ottoman Empire and then by the British Empire.
- Palestinian Aspirations: Palestinians, Arabs from the region, want to establish a state called Palestine in the region.
- Land and Control Conflict: A dispute between Israelis and Palestinians about territorial ownership and governance.
- Jews escaping persecution in Europe hoped to build a Jewish state on what they thought to be their ancestral homeland.
- Arab Resistance: Arabs resisted, claiming the region known as Palestine at the time as their own.
- The Balfour Declaration, issued in 1917, proclaimed the United Kingdom’s support for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
- Arab opposition to the proclamation resulted in rioting and increased tensions.
West Bank Jewish Immigration
- Thousands of Jews immigrated to Palestine throughout the 1920s and 1930s, according to migration statistics.
- Arab Opposition: Palestinian Arabs urged that the UK stop Jewish emigration, which resulted in violent occurrences.
- The League of Nations issued the British Mandate for Palestine in 1923, tasked the UK with creating a Jewish sovereign homeland.
- Partition Proposal: The United Kingdom proposed partitioning Palestine into Jewish and Arab republics in 1936.
Involvement of the UN in the Conflict:
- The subject of Palestine was presented to the UN in 1947, resulting in a partition plan.
- Proposals for Peace: The United Nations proposed two independent nations with economic cooperation or a single bi-national state with autonomous Jewish and Palestinian districts.
- Arab Invasion and Israeli Independence: When Israel declared independence in 1948, Arab countries immediately invaded.
- Changes in area: Under the UN decision, Israel gained some of the area designated for Palestinian Arabs, notably the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Resolving the Conflict:
- Two-State Solution Concept: The two-state solution seeks to build coexisting Israeli and Palestinian states in the region.
- The Solution’s Difficulty: The two-state solution has not been realised over the decades.
- The establishment of separate states for Israelis and Palestinians addresses the underlying source of the conflict.
Challenges to the Two-State Solution
(1) Borders:
- Drawing the Lines: There is no agreement on how to determine the borders.
- Some say that the borders before the 1967 Israeli-Arab war should be used.
- Settlements in the West Bank: The presence of Israeli settlements in the West Bank complicates the border question.
(2) Question of Jerusalem:
- Both Israel and the Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital.
- The overlapping of sacred sites makes it difficult to divide Jerusalem into Israeli and Palestinian areas.
(3) Refugee Issue:
- Palestinian Refugees: During the 1948 war, a large number of Palestinians became refugees.
- Right of Return: Around 5 million Palestinians and their descendants demand the right to return, which Israel denies.
(4) Security Concerns:
- Hamas Harassment: Israel faces security concerns from Hamas, the terrorist organisation that controls the Gaza Strip.
- Palestinian Attacks: Palestinians are also concerned about their safety as they fight to stop foreign military occupation.
The Value of a Two-State Solution
- Fulfilling Aspirations: The two-state solution gives Jews and Arabs their own states.
- Alternative Limitations: Other options, such as a single state, might result in Jews becoming a minority or an unhappy Arab majority.
Moral Justification for a Two-State Solution
- Aspirations in Balance: Advocates argue against subordinating one group’s goals to the those of another.
- A single state would reduce Jews to a minority, thereby jeopardising their objectives.
The Way Forward
- India feels that a negotiated two-state solution is necessary for long-term peace between Israel and Palestine.
- Establishment of a Palestinian State: India supports the creation of a sovereign, independent, and sustainable Palestinian state within internationally recognised borders.
Conclusion
- Understanding the Israel-Palestine issue and the significance of a two-state solution is critical for establishing regional peace.
- A negotiated settlement can result in a sovereign and independent Palestine living alongside Israel by addressing the problems and taking into account the aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians.
Source: https://press.un.org/en/2023/sc15293.doc.htm