The Israel-Palestine conflict: a brief, simple history

Israel-Palestine conflict History
Israel Palestine War
Arab countries

The Israel-Palestine conflict is a long-standing and deeply rooted dispute between Israelis and Palestinians over land, sovereignty, and historical grievances. It dates back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries when Jewish immigrants began settling in Palestine, then under Ottoman rule. The conflict intensified with the British Mandate in Palestine after World War I, and the United Nations' 1947 decision to partition the land into separate Jewish and Arab states.

The declaration of the State of Israel in 1948 led to a war between Israel and neighboring Arab states, resulting in displacement and suffering for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, known as the Nakba or "catastrophe." Since then, multiple wars, uprisings (intifadas), and peace efforts have defined the conflict's turbulent history.

Key issues at the heart of the conflict include the status of Jerusalem, the borders of Israel, the rights of Palestinian refugees, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. These issues have led to numerous negotiations, peace agreements, and conflicts, including the Oslo Accords in the 1990s and the Gaza-Israel conflicts.

The Israel-Palestine conflict remains a complex, deeply entrenched issue with deep emotional and historical significance for both sides, and it continues to impact the broader Middle East region and international diplomacy efforts.