The origins of the conflict in the Middle East
The roots of the Middle East conflict stretch far back in history. Around 70 AD, the Jewish population was expelled from the Roman province of Judea (later renamed Palestine in 135 AD). The exiled Jews settled in various parts of the European diaspora, the Near East, and North Africa. However, a small Jewish community remained in Palestine.
In the 19th century, as antisemitism grew in Europe, the idea of establishing a Jewish state in the ancestral homeland of Palestine gained momentum. The Zionist movement began purchasing land in Palestine, which at the time was a British mandate territory. This territory included the areas that now comprise Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank.
As more Jews migrated to the region, tensions between the Jewish and Arab communities escalated. During World War I, the British promised both groups, offering the territory in exchange for their support in the war.
United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine fails
Later, Great Britain attempted to curb the immigration of Jews to Palestine from Europe. Despite these efforts, they ultimately agreed to the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine, a decision met with strong opposition from the local Palestinian population. Overwhelmed by the growing tensions, Britain handed over its mandate over Palestine to the United Nations.
On November 29, 1947, the United Nations approved a partition plan that proposed a two-state solution. Under this plan, 40 percent of the territory was designated for a Palestinian state, while 60 percent was allocated for an Israeli state, with borders based on existing settlement zones. However, both the neighbouring Arab states and the Palestinian population rejected the plan. In the years that followed, many Arab nations expelled their Jewish communities, who had often lived there for centuries.
1948 to 1949: The First War in the Near East makes the founding of a Palestine State impossible
On May 14, 1948, the State of Israel was officially established, triggering an immediate military response from Syria, Transjordan, Egypt, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. These countries invaded the newly formed Israeli territory, marking the beginning of the first war in the Near East. The conflict largely favoured Israel, and the ceasefire agreed upon in 1949 established the “Green Line,” which became Israel’s de facto national borders.
During the war, Egypt captured Gaza, and Transjordan took control of the West Bank, preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state. As a result, over 700,000 Palestinians were forced to flee to neighbouring countries, Gaza, or the West Bank.
| This war and the subsequent mass displacement are known in Arabic as the “Nakba,” meaning catastrophe. In Hebrew, the conflict is referred to as the “Israeli War of Independence.” |
June 1967: The Six-Day War confirms Israeli supremacy
The Six-Day War began with a preemptive strike by Israel, destroying an Egyptian airbase amid fears of an imminent attack by Arab states. Syria and Jordan soon joined the conflict. In just a few days, the Israeli military successfully captured the Gaza Strip, the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula, the Syrian Golan Heights, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. The outcome of the Six-Day War had a lasting impact on the region’s geopolitical landscape.
October 1973: The Yom Kippur War leads to the acknowledgement of Israel from Egypt and Syria
On October 6, 1973, during the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, Syria and Egypt launched a coordinated attack on Israel from two fronts. Despite initial losses, the Israeli army quickly regained the lost territories and even captured additional land in Egypt and Syria. The war ended on October 26, 1973, following the intervention of the United States and the Soviet Union. The parties involved agreed to UN Resolution 338, which led Israel to return the captured territory, while the Arab states agreed to recognize Israel.
1978: Camp David Accords – leaving out the Gaza Strip and West Bank
U.S. President Jimmy Carter mediated negotiations between Egypt and Israel in an effort to de-escalate tensions between the two countries. However, critical issues such as the final status of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank were left unresolved. The talks resulted in a peace treaty, with both Egypt and Israel formally recognizing each other.
1987 to 1993: The First Intifada shows the anger and frustration of the Palestine population
| The Palestinian uprisings against Israeli rule are known as the Intifada. |
The First Intifada began as a spontaneous uprising led by the Palestinian population. It was triggered by an accident involving an Israeli truck, in which four Palestinians were killed. However, the unrest had been brewing long before, fueled by growing anger and dissatisfaction with Israel’s occupation of the territories since the Six-Day War.
During the First Intifada, the name “Hamas” appeared for the first time in leaflets circulated by the movement. In 1988, Jordan’s King Hussein formally renounced Jordan’s claim to the West Bank, transferring it to the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), fearing the potential spread of conflict into Jordan. Despite this, Israel continued to occupy the territories.
1993 to 1995: The Oslo Peace Process fails as there is no common solution to key questions
The prolonged conflict and violence highlighted the urgent need for a peace process. Norway stepped in as a mediator between Israel and the Palestinian population. However, several controversial issues—such as the fate of refugees and the status of Jerusalem—proved difficult to resolve and ultimately contributed to the failure of the negotiations.
As part of the agreements, both Egypt and Jordan formally agreed to abstain from involvement in Palestinian territories. Different zones were established in the West Bank, and the Palestinian Authority was created to govern these areas.
2000 to 2005: With the Second Intifada violence only escalated
With no lasting peace in place, the conflict continued to escalate. Violence from both sides persisted, and Israel increasingly isolated Palestinian territories in an effort to prevent attacks, leading to worsening poverty in these areas.
During the Second Intifada, radical Palestine groups launched suicide attacks within Israeli territory. In 2005, Israel decided to withdraw from Gaza, evacuating 21 Jewish settlements. However, Palestinian leaders accused Israel of simultaneously expanding settlements in the West Bank.
2007: Hamas Accession to Power leader to blockade of Gaza Strip
In June 2007, Hamas clashed with Fatah and the security forces of the Palestinian Authority over control of the Palestinian territories. The conflict stemmed from ideological differences, corruption, and the failure of the political system. Ultimately, Hamas emerged as the dominant power. In response, both Egypt and Israel imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip.
Conflicts in the Near East have continued since 2007:
Since Hamas came to power, conflicts in the Near East have persisted. Hamas denies the legitimacy of the Israeli state, leading to ongoing tensions. Major escalations occurred in 2008-2009, 2012, 2014, 2021, 2022, and 2023, while peace efforts have repeatedly failed.