Tension in the Middle East: A special report on the Israel - Palestine conflict

 Tension in the Middle East:

A special report on the Israel - Palestine conflict.

Passions are often high between Israel and Palestinians living in East Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank.

Gaza is ruled by a Palestinian militant group called Hamas, which has fought Israel many times. Israel and Egypt tightly control Gaza's borders to stop weapons getting to Hamas.

Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank say they're suffering because of Israeli actions and restrictions. Israel say it is only acting to protect itself from Palestinian violence.

Things have escalated since the start of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan in mid-April 2021, with nightly clashes between police and Palestinians.

The fighting between Israel and Hamas was triggered by days of escalating clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police at a holy hilltop compound in East Jerusalem. The site is revered by both Muslims, who call it the Haram al-Sharif (Noble Sanctuary), and Jews, for whom it is known as the Temple Mount.

The fighting broke out late Monday, May 10, 2021, when Hamas, fired a barrage of long-range rockets toward the city in response to what it claimed were Israeli provocations. Israel quickly responded with a series of airstrikes. Since then, Israel has attacked hundreds of targets in Gaza.

What happened?

Israel and Palestine are in news this week as the the militant terror group Hamas, which rules the Gaza strip launched a volley of missile attacks on Israel. 

Israel retaliated with air strikes in Gaza and wiping out a dozen of top Hamas leaders. 

Almost 43 Palestinians were reportedly killed in Gaza and 5 have been reported dead in Israel following  the airstrikes by May 12.

Major reason of violence:

The current violence, like in past, happened due to conflicting claims over Jerusalem home to major holy sites of Islam, Judaism and Christianity.

Israel- Palestine conflict:

Timeline of Events 

History discussed:

• The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is an ongoing struggle since mid 20th century.

• The conflict has been one of the most enduring conflicts of the world and yet there is no amicable solution that has been found. 

• The conflict has been ongoing for more than a 100 years between Jews and Arabs over a piece of land between Jordan river and the Mediterranean sea. 

• It was between 1882 to 1948, when the Jews from around the world gathered in Palestine, which was according to them their holy lands since hundreds of years.  This gathering or home coming came to be known as Aliyahs. 

• Then in 1917, Ottoman Empire fell after World War 1 and the UK got control over Palestine.

• The Balfour Declaration was issued after Britain gained control with the aim of establishing a home for the Jews in Palestine. 

• However during that period the Arabs were in majority in Palestine. 

Jews favoured the idea while the Palestinians rejected it. 

• Almost 6 million Jews lost their lives in the Holocaust during World War 2, which also ignited further demand of a separate Jewish state.

• Jews claimed Palestine to be their natural home while the Arabs too staked their claim.

The international community supported the Jews.   

• It was in the year 1948 that Britain lifted its control over the area and Jews declared the creation of Israel. 

• Although Palestinians objected, Jews did not back out which led to an armed conflict. 

• The neighboring Arabs also invaded and were thrashed by the Israeli troops

This made thousands of Palestinians flee their homes.

• This was called Al-Nakba, or the "Catastrophe". 

Israel had gained maximum control over the territory after this and Arab hegemony came to an end. 

• Jordan then went on a war with Israel and seized control over a part of the land which was called the West Bank, and Egypt occupied Gaza.

• Jerusalem was divided between Israel in the West, and Jordan in the East. However, no formal peace agreement was signed, each side continued to blame each other for the tension and the region saw more wars. 

• Israeli forces captured East Jerusalem and the West Bank, various areas of Syrian Golan Heights, Gaza and the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula in the year 1967.

• That time Palestinian refugees and families lived in Gaza and the West Bank, along within the border areas of neighboring Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.

• They were not allowed to return after the Israeli forces captured the areas as they considered it a threat to Jews. 

The UN steps in:

• Israel occupied the West Bank, though the Israeli forces pulled out of Gaza which happened after the United Nations mediation.

• Israel says the whole of Jerusalem is it's capital while Palestinians say the East of Jerusalem is theirs. 

Mediation of other countries:

• The United States being a very close ally of Israel and a handful of other countries have recognized Israel's claim on the whole of Jerusalem.

• Palestine objected strongly when Israel built numerous settlements in the above mentioned areas, where approximately 6,00,000 Jews now live.

Hamas and Israel:

• Hamas is a militant terrorist outfit founded with the aim of destroying Israel.

• Israel and Hamas have a history of fighting three wars and various skirmishes since the militant group seized control of Gaza in 2007.

• Recent outbreaks of fights were mediated by Qatar, Egypt and various other middle east countries. 

• Egypt helps Israel in controlling Gaza's borders to halt weapons from landing in the hands of Hamas.

• Palestinians however are claiming to be tortured by both Hamas and Israeli army equally which Israel denies. 

• Now a new tension between the two parties has emerged when in mid April 2021 night clashes took place between police and Palestinians near Temple Mount.

Hamas, wanting to hijack this skirmish and gain attention before Eid, launched a missile attack on Israel.

Importance of Jerusalem to 3 religions:

• Jerusalem has been in news recently due to the continuing Israel-Palestine Conflict. This holy city's name resonates with Christians, Muslims and Jews equally.

• Jerusalem was known as Yerushalayim in Hebrew and as al-Quds in Arabic. It is one of the oldest cities in the world which has been repeatedly conquered, destroyed and rebuilt time and again. 

• The core of this city consists of a maze of alleyways along with a historic architecture that housed four quarters for Muslims, Christians, Jewish, Armenians respectively. The city is the holiest city of the world and is the cause of the conflict between Israel and Palestine.  

Why is Jerusalem important for three religions:

About the Temple Mount:

Temple Mount is a compound on a hill in Jerusalem. It is a piece of land measuring 35 acres consisting of three religious sites- Western Wall, the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque. 

Jews: 

Temple Mount is said to be the holiest place in Judaism. This is the area which Jews refer to as the sacrificial site of Abraham's son Isaac. As per the Jewish legend, Abraham went to sacrifice his son Isaac on God's demand to prove his religion and faith after which a sheep appeared for him from above and his son was freed. 

The site is also the location of the first and second Temples . Here many Jewish prophets preached earlier. Jews are of the belief that the Dome of the Rock is the site of the Holy of Holies. The Western Wall is considered to be the closest place Jews can pray to the Holy of Holies. Rabbi of the Western Wall manages it and hosts millions of visitors yearly.

Muslims:

The Temple Mount [Al Aqsa Mosque] is considered to be the third holiest site in Islam - The first two being Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. Here is where Muslims believe their Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven. In Jerusalem the Muslim Quarter is the largest of the four quarters containing the shrine of the Dome of Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque (shown below) on a plateau called the Haram al-Sharif, or the Noble Sanctuary.

Christians: 

Christians also believe the site is significant to their faith. The Old Testament of the Bible mentions this place to have been visited by various prophets and it was also said to be visited by Jesus according to the New Testament.The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was constructed in 335 A.D. It is the site believed by Christians where Jesus was crucified and later had resurrected. This Church is located in the Christian quarter of Jerusalem.

This is why Jerusalem is important to 3 religions of the world.

What are the main problems between Israel and Palestine?

There are a number of issues which Israel and the Palestinians cannot agree on.

These include what should happen to Palestinian refugees, whether Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank should stay or be removed, whether the two sides should share Jerusalem, and - perhaps most tricky of all - whether a Palestinian state should be created alongside Israel.

Peace talks have been taking place on and off for more than 25 years, but so far have not solved the conflict.

What does the future hold?

In short, the situation isn't going to be sorted out any time soon.

@ Compiled & Edited by Dayanand Nene.

(With media inputs).