They appear again and again in different versions and on countless social networks: maps that show how Israel is claiming more and more Palestinian territories for itself. This leads to the already hateful debate being further fueled. Who owns which area? Who attacked whom? Who is responsible for the new escalation?
A brief history of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in maps https://t.co/8pxciaq5dQ 👇
— The Economist (@TheEconomist) November 6, 2023
The Economist also shows a somewhat simplified story in a post about X. Only the linked article – but only accessible with a subscription – explains the complex situation in the Middle East.
Between the left and right of these three maps lie decades during which countless territorial conflicts and agreements have been reached through international mediation. All this ultimately led to the status quo. We offer you a historical classification.
1947 – The post-war period
After the Holocaust and the murder of more than six million Jews, pressure is growing for international recognition of a Jewish state. The UN proposes dividing the area into three parts, which are still disputed today previously, in an Arab and a Jewish state and in Jerusalem, a separate entity governed and controlled internationally.
While the Jewish population is happy with the UN’s plans, the Arabs feel unfairly treated. They consider their national territory too small. This exacerbates the already existing conflicts between Jews and Arabs.
In 1948, Jewish leaders announced the creation of Israel. As a result, neighboring Arab countries – Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Iraq – promptly attacked the newly created state.
However, Israel is able to repel these attacks. As a result, the Jews were able to expand their territory and more than 700,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled. They are housed in the Gaza Strip (then under the control of Egypt) and the West Bank (under the control of Jordan). Jerusalem is divided into Israeli West Jerusalem and Transjordan East Jerusalem.
1967 – The Six Day War
On June 5, 1967, following existing tensions but without declaring war, Israel attacked first Egypt and then Jordan and Syria. In just six days – hence the name – Israel achieved a monumental victory, conquering the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, the Golan Heights and Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.
The cheers from Israel’s side are enormous. Meanwhile, frustration among Palestinians is growing. The unrest continues.
1973 – The Yom Kippur War
Yom Kippur is the highest Jewish holiday and the day on which Egypt and Syria surprised Israel in 1973. Israel can repel the attacks and nothing changes in the territorial situation. However, the Yom Kippur War led to developments that five years later resulted in the signing of the Camp David Accords – a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt, brokered by the US.
Israel returns Sinai to Egypt and agrees to grant autonomy to the Palestinians. However, the fundamental problems between Israel and Palestine still exist. The Gaza Strip and the West Bank remain occupied by Israel.
1993 – The Oslo Accords
The world is watching Washington DC, where Israel and Palestine signed the first of a series of agreements in the US capital on September 9, 1993. These are named after Oslo, the capital of Norway, where the two sides to the conflict held intensive negotiations for months.
The agreement provides for five years of Palestinian autonomy in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. This is under new leadership: the Palestinian Authority (PA). A two-state solution is within reach. However, certain questions remain unanswered. For example, what will happen to the Israeli settlements on Palestinian territory and of which Jerusalem will become the capital?
The Economist writes about a confusing patchwork of regulations. In certain areas the Palestinians have complete control. In other parts, Israel retains ultimate security or even complete control.
Ultimately, the Oslo Accords do not lead to the hoped-for peace. In 1995, a month and a half after the signing of the second treaty (Oslo II), Israeli Prime Minister Rabin was assassinated by a Jewish extremist after a peace meeting in Tel Aviv. Hamas also carried out its first suicide bombings in Israel. The result: Israel strictly demarcates the Gaza Strip to keep Hamas terrorists out of its own country.
2005 to today
After the second Palestinian uprising (second Intifada), Israel withdrew its approximately 6,500 settlers and all soldiers from the Gaza Strip in 2005.
Today, nearly 3 million Palestinians and more than 450,000 Israelis live in the West Bank, with numbers roughly quadrupling since the Oslo Accords three decades ago.
The Gaza Strip has been controlled by Hamas since 2007. The terrorist organization repeatedly fires rockets into Israeli territory. Israel has already responded four times with major retaliatory strikes.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas’ long-planned major attack on Israel will take place. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declares war on Hamas, and the Israeli army retaliates en masse. This is the bloodiest escalation yet. At least 1,400 people have been killed in Israel so far, according to the Health Ministry. According to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, 10,022 people died in the Gaza Strip, but the figures for Gaza cannot currently be independently verified.
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
