Vartman Darshan: Israel-Palestine Conflict and Where Do We Stand Today?
“Vartman Darshan” is a blog that covers current events around us. The name ‘Vartman’ means present, and ‘darshan’ means sight, which conveys the blog’s purpose: to explain what is happening in the world. This blog aims to inform readers about various issues and events. Often, we encounter brief news that only captures the essence of events as they unfold, needing more background and context.
Therefore, this blog seeks to provide that context, helping readers understand what is happening, why it is happening, and what may happen in the future. Our goal is to keep readers updated and foster a deeper understanding of the situations at hand.
Today’s blog will explore the Israel-Palestine conflict and its current status, presenting a detailed overview of this ongoing issue while tracing its roots back several centuries.
The Israel-Palestinian conflict is a complex and longstanding issue that has been at the forefront of international news for decades. In this blog, we’ll explore the key events and milestones that have shaped the relationship between Israelis and Palestinians, from the formation of Israel in 1948 to the historic Oslo Accord in 1993.
Early Years: 1917-1948
The story begins in 1917 with the Balfour Declaration, where the British government expressed support for the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine. This led to an influx of Jewish immigrants, which was met with resistance from the Arab population. The British Mandate, which governed Palestine from 1922 to 1947, struggled to balance the competing interests of Jews and Arabs.
The Balfour Declaration
Establishment of Israel and the 1948 War
In 1947, the United Nations proposed dividing Palestine into two independent states, one Jewish and one Arab, with Jerusalem internationalized .Israel declared independence in 1948, leading to a war with neighboring Arab states. The conflict resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, known as the Nakba or “catastrophe” in Arabic.
Occupation and Resistance: 1967-1987
In 1967, Israel occupied the West Bank and Gaza Strip, leading to a second exodus of Palestinian. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) emerged as a major player in the Palestinian resistance movement. The 1980s saw the rise of the intifada, or uprising, against Israeli occupation.
The Oslo Accord: 1993
After decades of conflict, the Israeli government and the PLO signed the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements, also known as the Oslo Accord . This landmark agreement established the Palestinian Authority and laid the groundwork for limited self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Recently, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed with a gunshot wound to the head, and his forearm was severely injured before his death, causing significant bleeding. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced Sinwar’s death on Thursday, October 17, and Hamas confirmed it the following day.
The Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, marked the beginning of a new chapter in the Israel-Palestine conflict, resulting in the deaths of over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals, with 251 individuals taken hostage and brought back to Gaza.
This anniversary coincides with Israel being engaged in a new conflict in Lebanon against Hezbollah and preparing to retaliate against Iran, raising concerns about an even larger conflict.
Israel- Palestine Conflict: where are we Headed?
This conflict has dragged on for decades with disastrous consequences for both the countries. Israelis live under constant threat of violence while Palestinians have to endure a life full of deprivations and hopelessness. The closest they came to a mutually beneficial solution was when Prime minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO leader Yasser Arafat dared to take bold steps and went ahead with peaceful negotiations to reach consensus. Oslo accords had potential to bring peace and prosperity to this conflict zone. But there are some very powerful elements in both the societies that work to undermine any such developments.
Palestinian extremist organizations like Hamas and Islamic Jihad were not happy with Yasser Arafat’s plans for resolution to the conflict. They carried out large scale violence using techniques like ‘Suicide Bombing’ in Israeli cities to create an atmosphere of fear and mistrust in Israeli society. Jewish fundamentalist elements in Israel organized huge street protests to oppose Prime minister Rabin’s efforts for negotiated peace. Yitzhak Rabin was demonized and blamed for terrorist violence. He was branded as an anti-Semite and a terrorist. He was accused of collaborating with Yasser Arafat to undermine Zionist project. Some protesters even carried placards depicting him as Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler. Eventually he was assassinated by a radicalized Jewish extremist.
Gaza has been under Hamas control since 2006 when they gained power through electoral process for the first time. They have developed a complex network of underground tunnels with support from Iran. They use these tunnels to plan and execute periodic violence against Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) as well as civilian population across the border. These tunnels help them avoid detection and being targeted by sophisticated military apparatus deployed by Israel
Israel’s military preparedness and ability to eliminate their enemies anywhere in the world has been appreciated by the world in superlative terms. Israeli spy agencies like Mossad and Shin Bet are considered among the most effective espionage networks in the world. They have carried out assassinations of their adversaries in most improbable of places. For instance, in July 2024, they eliminated Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of political wing of Hamas, in the heart of Tehran where he had been to attend swearing in of new Iranian President.
On October 7,2023, Hamas managed to breach Israeli defenses and executed the deadliest attack on Israeli soil since its declaration of independence in 1948. Hamas launched simultaneous attacks on multiple fronts to surprise and overwhelm the border security forces. Israeli security establishment was found unprepared for such an attack and before they could bring situation under control, Hamas had killed around 1200 people including around 800 civilians. Even more shockingly, they took 251 people hostage and demanded in return, release of large number of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons.
This was a huge lapse on Israeli government’s part. At the time, Prime minister Netanyahu was facing charges of corruption and bribery. His government’s initiative to reform judicial system and to bring it under legislative oversight were facing unprecedented resistance from general public. There were massive street protests all over Israel and political atmosphere was extremely polarized. Apart from affecting governance and economic activity in the country, this political turmoil was affecting IDF’ capabilities to defend the country against threats from Iran and its proxies in the region.
October 7 attack was huge embarrassment for Netanyahu and his right wing coalition partners. On the other hand, it was also an opportunity for him to divert people’s attention from his legal troubles and consolidate his position by leading Israel into a full scale war. He declared war on Hamas and stated that his government’s aim was to achieve ‘total victory’ over Hamas and its allies. Israel’s response to Hamas was way out of proportion. They sought to achieve complete destruction of military infrastructure built by Hamas over the years in order to nullify its capacity to inflict violence on Israel in the future.
The war has been raging for more than a year now. Israel has achieved many tactical victories in this military campaign. It has managed to eliminate many high value targets.
Economic impact
The BBC article titled “We Need a Miracle” looks at how the ongoing war is impacting the economies of Israel and Palestine. The conflict in Gaza has severely damaged Gaza’s economy and created big challenges for Palestinian businesses in the West Bank. At the same time, Israel, often called the “start-up nation,” is finding it hard to attract investors, especially during important religious holidays like Passover.
In Jerusalem, the Old City, which is usually busy with tourists, is very quiet. The number of visitors has dropped by more than 70% compared to last year. Zak Mishriky, who runs Zak’s Jerusalem Gifts, shares his worries about falling sales: “After the recent escalation with Iran, our business dropped again. We are just hoping for a big miracle afte…
Geopolitical effect
The geopolitical fallout of the Israel-Hamas war, as reported by The Hindu on November 18, 2023, points to major changes in West Asia’s political landscape. The U.S., wanting to shift focus to rivals like Russia and China, pushed for the Abraham Accords to bring Israel and Gulf Arab states together, aiming for stability to free up its resources. However, Gulf Arabs, noticing the U.S. was stepping back from the region, sought new allies, which led to the Iran-Saudi reconciliation with China’s help. The U.S. tried to strengthen Arab-Israel peace by promoting the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. However, the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel disrupted these plans and further complicated the region’s political balance.
India Today report in 2023, October 11 article explains Hamas’ unexpected attack, which caught Israel off guard by breaching land, air, and sea defenses. Israel’s famous Iron Dome system couldn’t stop all the rockets, and Hamas even used hang-gliders to infiltrate Israeli airspace. Israel responded with airstrikes on Gaza, but both sides have seen many civilian deaths. Gaza is facing a shortage of food, water, and electricity, with people trapped, showing the deep historical tensions, especially the shrinking Palestinian territories since 1947.
The Washington Diplomat article published on 2023, November 20 op-ed talks about how this war is dividing global opinions. Israel, accused of committing atrocities, refuses a ceasefire until Hamas releases over 240 hostages. Meanwhile, Hezbollah and Iran-backed groups have opened new battlefronts. The U.S. continues to support Israel, but relations with Arab nations have weakened. China and Africa are calling for a ceasefire, while the death toll in Gaza exceeds 11,400. This article shows how the conflict is not only causing political instability but also affecting the daily lives of people. As the war drags on, it risks causing even more hardship, not just in the region but globally, disrupting economies and societies.
India’s stand on the issue
According to various newspaper article and in the question answer session in the Indian parliament. India has maintained a consistent stance on the Israel-Palestine issue, supporting a two-state solution. India advocates for the creation of a sovereign, independent, and viable Palestinian state that peacefully coexists with Israel.
India condemned the terror attcacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, and expressed sorrow over the loss of civilian lives in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. The Indian government has urged both sides to exercise restraint and de-escalate the situation, emphasizing the importance of resolving the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. India has also called for the release of remaining hostages in the conflict.
India’s leadership, including the Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister, has engaged in discussions with leaders from both Israel and Palestine to encourage peace efforts. In January 2024, the Indian External Affairs Minister reiterated support for the two-state solution during a meeting with the Palestinian Foreign Minister. India continues to uphold this position in international forums such as the UN, G20, BRICS, and the Voice of Global South Summit.