A Lesson in History

Ancient Roots:

Palestine's history is deeply rooted in antiquity, with archaeological evidence indicating human habitation dating back thousands of years. The region has been home to numerous civilizations, including the Canaanites, Philistines, and Israelites. For Palestinians, this ancient heritage is a source of pride, connecting them to the land through generations.

Ottoman Era:

The Ottoman Empire's rule from the early 16th century to the early 20th century significantly impacted Palestine. Palestinian society flourished during this time, characterized by economic development, cultural exchange, and religious coexistence. The Ottoman era laid the groundwork for the diverse and pluralistic society that defines Palestine today.

British Mandate:

The 20th century brought significant changes with the arrival of the British Mandate. Palestinians experienced hardships, as their aspirations for self-determination clashed with external forces. The Balfour Declaration of 1917, promising a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine, set the stage for tensions that persist to this day.

the British Mandate for Palestine, which lasted from 1920 to 1948, was a significant period in the history of the region. Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire after World War I, the League of Nations granted Britain the mandate to administer Palestine and facilitate the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people. This action was with a known understanding that, it would displace hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and create a conflict in the region.

Here are key aspects of the British Mandate period:

Balfour Declaration (1917): Issued by British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour, the declaration expressed support for "the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people." This declaration set the stage for the British Mandate and had profound implications for the demographic and political landscape of Palestine.

Mandate Administration: Under the League of Nations mandate, Britain was tasked with preparing the territory for self-government and facilitating the establishment of a Jewish homeland. However, these goals often conflicted, leading to tensions between the Arab and Jewish communities in Palestine.

Demographic Changes: The influx of Jewish immigrants, encouraged by the Balfour Declaration and the mandate, resulted in significant demographic shifts. This demographic change fueled tensions between the Arab majority and the growing Jewish minority, laying the groundwork for future conflicts.

Arab-Jewish Strife: The conflicting national aspirations of the Arab and Jewish populations led to increased tensions and periodic outbreaks of violence. Arab residents opposed what they perceived as an infringement on their rights and autonomy, while Jewish settlers sought to establish a homeland in Palestine.

Peel Commission (1937): In response to escalating tensions, the British government established the Peel Commission to investigate the causes of the Arab-Jewish conflict. The commission recommended partitioning Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states, with an international administration for Jerusalem. However, this proposal was not implemented.

White Paper Policy: In 1939, Britain issued the White Paper, which aimed to limit Jewish immigration to Palestine and set restrictions on land sales to Jews. This policy was influenced by British concerns about Arab opposition, the desire to maintain regional stability, and wartime considerations.

World War II: The impact of World War II further complicated the situation in Palestine. Jewish organizations, such as the Haganah, played a significant role in supporting the British war effort, while extremist groups like the Irgun and Stern Gang opposed British rule, engaging in acts of sabotage against the mandate authorities.

The British Mandate period laid the groundwork for the subsequent establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, as well as the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The complexities of this era, shaped by conflicting national aspirations, migration, and geopolitical considerations, continue to influence the region's dynamics and historical narratives today.

Nakba and Displacement:

The Nakba, meaning "catastrophe" in Arabic, refers to the events surrounding the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 and the subsequent displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian Arabs from their homes and land. The Nakba remains a defining and deeply traumatic episode in Palestinian history, shaping the collective memory and identity of the Palestinian people.

Here are key elements to understand about the Nakba and the displacement of Palestinians:

Partition Plan (1947): The United Nations proposed a partition plan in 1947 to divide Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem as an international city. The plan was accepted by Jewish leaders but rejected by Arab leaders, as it allocated a disproportionate amount of land to the proposed Jewish state. This disagreement set the stage for conflict.

Declaration of the State of Israel (1948): On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion, the head of the Jewish Agency, declared the establishment of the State of Israel. The declaration came on the eve of the expiration of the British Mandate. Arab states, in response, initiated military intervention.

Armed Conflict and Expulsions: The armed conflict between Jewish and Arab forces resulted in widespread violence and displacement. Many Palestinian Arab communities were caught in the crossfire, and others were forcefully expelled by Jewish militias or fled in fear of the advancing conflict. Numerous villages and towns were depopulated or destroyed during this period.

Refugee Crisis: The displacement of Palestinians led to a massive refugee crisis, with hundreds of thousands seeking refuge in neighboring Arab countries, particularly in Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) was established in 1949 to provide humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees.

Loss of Homes and Livelihoods: Palestinians who fled or were expelled from their homes lost not only their physical possessions but also their livelihoods and connections to their ancestral lands. The Nakba resulted in the destruction of Palestinian villages and the loss of cultural heritage for many communities.

Impact on Palestinian Identity: The Nakba has had a profound and lasting impact on Palestinian identity. It is a shared historical experience that continues to shape the Palestinian narrative, fostering a sense of dispossession, injustice, and the right of return for displaced Palestinians.

Right of Return: The issue of the right of return for Palestinian refugees remains a central and contentious aspect of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Palestinians advocate for the right of return as a fundamental element of justice, while Israel maintains that the return of refugees would undermine the demographic character of the state.

The Nakba is a pivotal chapter in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, contributing to deep-seated grievances and shaping the political and social dynamics of the region. Acknowledging and understanding the Nakba is crucial for meaningful dialogue and efforts towards a just and lasting resolution to the conflict.

“Open Air Prison”

Israeli Military Control: Since the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel has maintained control over the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. The military occupation of these territories has had profound implications for the lives of Palestinians living there.

Restrictions on Movement: Palestinians in the West Bank face restrictions on their freedom of movement due to Israeli military checkpoints, roadblocks, and the separation barrier. This impacts daily life, access to services, and economic activities.

Military Presence: Israeli military forces have a visible presence in the West Bank, conducting patrols, maintaining checkpoints, and enforcing security measures. This has led to incidents of friction and tension between Israeli forces and Palestinian residents.

Security Barrier: The construction of the separation barrier, often referred to as the "security barrier" by Israel and the "apartheid wall" by critics, has physically divided communities in the West Bank and contributed to the isolation of Palestinian areas.

Settlements not Peace

Israeli Settlements: Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are civilian communities established by Israel in territory occupied during the 1967 war. These settlements are considered illegal under international law, as they violate the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits the transfer of an occupying power's civilian population into the territory it occupies.

Population Growth: Over the years, the number of Israeli settlers in the West Bank has grown significantly. Settlement expansion involves the construction of new housing units, roads, and infrastructure, often at the expense of Palestinian land and resources.

Impact on Palestinians: Settlements contribute to the fragmentation of the West Bank, as they are strategically placed to create contiguous areas of Israeli control. Palestinians face displacement, loss of land, and restricted access to water resources as a result of settlement expansion.

Obstacle to Peace: The presence and expansion of settlements are major obstacles to the peace process. The establishment of settlements is seen by many as undermining the prospects for a two-state solution, as it creates facts on the ground that complicate the delineation of borders and the viability of a future Palestinian state.

International Condemnation: The international community, including the United Nations, has consistently condemned the construction and expansion of Israeli settlements. Many countries view settlements as a hindrance to the establishment of a lasting and just resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The issues of occupation and settlements are deeply intertwined and remain central to the challenges faced by both Israelis and Palestinians. Addressing these issues is essential for achieving a sustainable and equitable resolution to the conflict.

Settler Violence

Settlers are Israeli citizens or citizens with dual nationalities who live on private Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. The vast majority of the settlements have been built either entirely or partially on private Palestinian land. More than Seven hundred thousand (700,0000) settlers now live in 150+ settlements and 125+ outposts on the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

A settlement is authorized by the Israeli government while an outpost is built without government authorization. These illegal settlements have also been condemned by the international community for settler violence and death of innocent Palestinians. Below is a direct quote from United Nations on settler violence.

“Israeli settler violence has increased significantly, from an already high average of three incidents per day in 2023 to seven a day now, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OHCA).

During this period, OCHA recorded 171 settler attacks against Palestinians, resulting in 26 different casualty incidents, damage to 115 Palestinian properties, and some 30 reported incidents of both property damage and casualties.

Cases of harassment, trespass and intimidation are not included in the reporting, although they too increase the pressure on Palestinians to leave their land, the Office noted.

An increasing number of Israeli settlers have moved onto West Bank land, occupied by Israel since 1967, undermining a potential two-State solution to the long running conflict, where two States live peacefully side by side.

Access restrictions

Access restrictions, typically imposed by the Israeli authorities, have also intensified throughout the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. These are particularly severe in areas near Israeli settlements and in the so called “Seam Zone”; the Palestinian area isolated by Israel’s 712-kilometre-long barrier in the West Bank.

Settlers too have imposed movement restrictions, OCHA said, blocking access roads to Palestinian communities, limiting their access to essential services and livelihoods. In some cases, settlers have also damaged water resources which herding communities rely on.

Humanitarian assistance services, including health and education, has also had to stop since the restrictions intensified, OCHA added.

Use of firearms

The Office also noted the use of firearms to intimidate Palestinians, with more than one in every three settler-related incidents since 7 October involving settlers using firearms to threaten Palestinians, including by opening fire.

On 12 October, eight households, comprising 51 people, were displaced from the Shihda WaHamlan herding community in Nablus in northern West Bank, after settlers threatened them at gunpoint, saying they would kill them and set their tents on fire during the night, according to OCHA.

‘Active support’ of Israeli forces

It added that in almost half the cases, Israeli security forces “accompanied or actively supported” the attackers.

Many of the latter incidents were followed by confrontations between Israeli forces and Palestinians, where three Palestinians were killed, and dozens injured. Eight Palestinians were killed by settlers directly, as of the end of October, the Office noted.

Damage or destruction was caused to 24 residential structures, 40 structures used for farming, 67 vehicles and more than 400 trees and saplings.”