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Israel – Palestine conflict and America’s role

06 Apr 2024 Israel – Palestine conflict and America’s role

Posted at 18:13h in Daily current-affairs by
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( This article is related to the brief summary of the combined editorial of ‘ Indian Express’, ‘The Hindu’ ‘Jansatta’ and ‘PIB’. It also includes the suggestions of the Yojna IAS team. This article is related to the UPSC Civil Services Examination, specifically the ‘ International Relations ’ section. This article belongs to  ‘Israel – Palestine conflict and the role of America‘ under ‘ Daily Current Affairs’ )

 

Why in the News ?

 

 

 

  • Recently, on April 1, 2024, there was an attack on an annex of the Iranian Embassy in Damascus.
  • This attack is a further step in the multi-dimensional conflict that is spreading across West Asia from October 7, 2023.
  • Iran has blamed Israel for this attack.
  • In this attack, 13 Iranians, including Mohammad Reza Zahedi, the top commander in charge of the Quds Force’s Syria operation, have been killed.
  • Israel has neither confirmed these claims nor denied that it was behind such attacks. But it is an open secret that it is taking action by targeting Iranian military and nuclear installations in this entire region.
  • On 25 December 2023, Razi Mousavi, a senior adviser to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was killed in a suspected Israeli strike in Syria.
  • The attack of April 1, 2024 is different from Israel’s previous attacks because an embassy complex was targeted in this attack.
  • Under international law, any embassy and other diplomatic premises have protected status, which cannot be attacked under any circumstances.
  • Even during the Second World War, diplomatic complexes were not attacked by enemy powers.
  • When the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade was bombed by the US in May 1999, then US President Bill Clinton publicly apologized, calling it an accident.
  • In Damascus, the attack was aimed at hitting a group of IRGC fighters. Many in Iran view this as an act of war.

 

Main reasons for Israel – Palestine conflict : 

 

 

 

 

  • The main reason for the Israel-Palestine conflict is the city called Jerusalem.
  • Jerusalem is a city that straddles the border between Israel and the West Bank.
  • It is an important site, one of the holiest sites in both Judaism and Islam.
  • Therefore, both Israel and Palestine want to capture the city of Jerusalem.
  • The city of Jerusalem is considered to be the main cause of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
  • Therefore, both countries want this to be the solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.

 

What does Palestine want ?

 

  • Palestine wants Israel to withdraw from the city limits of Jerusalem before 1967 and to establish an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza.
  • Israel must stop all humanitarian expansion into settlements in the city of Jerusalem and then engage in peace talks related to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
  • Palestine also wants that Palestinian refugees who lost their homes in 1948 should have the freedom to return to their homes in Palestine.
  • Palestine wants to make East Jerusalem the capital of an independent Palestine state.

 

What does Israel want ?

 

  • Israel wants sovereignty over Jerusalem.
  • Wants global recognition of Israel as a Jewish state.
  • Israel is the only country in the world that was created for a religious community.
  • Only Palestine has the right of return for Palestinian refugees, not Israel.

 

The main reasons for America’s entry into the Israel – Palestine conflict :

 

  • There are more Jews in the United States than in Israel. Jews have significant control over the American media and economy.
  • Israel receives approximately $3 billion in direct foreign aid each year, which currently accounts for about one-fifth of the entire US foreign aid budget.
  • America is playing an important role as a mediator in the Israel-Palestine conflict, but its credibility as a mediator has been questioned by the Palestinians for a long time.
  • The United States has also been criticized by the OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) and other Arab organizations for vetoing most Security Council decisions criticizing Israel.
  • The United States has been vocal about its intention to veto any Palestinian efforts to achieve statehood for Palestine. Due to which Palestine is not included in the United Nations even at present. ‘Non-member Observer’ Had to be satisfied with ‘status’ only.
  • The second term of the Obama administration saw a deterioration in US–Israel relations.
  • Israel was irritated by the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and also criticized America for this agreement.
  • The Obama administration allowed the United Nations to pass a resolution that declared Israel’s growing settlements in the occupied territories illegal.
  • Until that vote, the Obama administration had used its veto power in the UN Security Council to block resolutions criticizing Israel.
  • With the presidency led by Trump, who was more inclined towards Israel, an increase in illegal settlements by Israel was seen in the West Bank and Gaza.

Conclusion or path to solution of Israel – Palestine conflict :

 

 

 

 

 

  • The most accurate solution to the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict “Two – State Theory “ Maybe that would establish Palestine as an independent state in Gaza and much of the West Bank, and leave the rest of the land to Israel.
  • The two-state plan in the Israel-Palestine conflict is clear in theory, but both sides have still not agreed on how to implement it in practice.
  • A one-state solution (only Palestine or only Israel) cannot be a viable option.
  • Road Map for Peace: The EU, UN, US and Russia issued a road map in 2003, outlining a clear timetable for Palestinian statehood.
  • Democratization of Palestinian society is necessary so that a new credible leadership can emerge.
  • It is time for the international community to quickly find a just and lasting peaceful solution to the world’s most difficult conflict.
  • Even before the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, a shadow war was going on between Israel and Iran in West Asia. But after October 7, 2023, Israel started a two-pronged attack.
  • On one hand, it has launched a complete attack on Gaza, a small Palestinian territory with 2.3 million people, while on the other hand, it has carried out dozens of air strikes in Syria and Lebanon against Iran and its militia network.
  • Israel views Iran as the nexus of all non-state militias in the region, be it Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis or Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and is determined to eradicate their influence in its immediate neighborhood.
  • Israel’s war in Gaza is not going according to plan.
  • The Israel-Palestine conflict that has been going on for the last six months has turned Gaza into an open graveyard, in which more than 33,000 people have been killed. Most of these killed include women and children.
  • The attack which took place on October 7, 2023, on the instructions of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is now under increasing pressure within his own country and abroad to call for a ceasefire and resign.
  • An open war between Israel and Iran, which could even drag the US into it, would be a security disaster for the region and an economic nightmare for the world at large.
  • Therefore, Iran should not fall into the trap laid by Israel.
  • Strategically, it should show patience and restraint and the United States, Israel’s most important diplomatic and military supporter, should prevent its closest ally from committing evil acts again.
  • At present, America will have to control Israel and Iran will also have to maintain restraint in this war.

 

Practice Questions for Preliminary Exam :

 

Q. 1. Consider the following statements regarding the Israel – Palestine conflict.

  1. The main reason for the Israel-Palestine conflict is the city called Jerusalem.
  2. Jerusalem is one of the holiest sites in both Judaism and Islam.
  3. Jerusalem is located on the border between Israel and the West Bank.
  4. Israel-Palestine conflict resolution There may be a two-state theory.

Which of the above statement / statements is/are correct?

A. Only 1, 2 and 3. 

B. Only 2, 3 and 4.

C. Only 1, 3 and 4.

D. All of these.

 

Answer – D

 

Practice Questions for Main Exam :

 

Q.1. Outline the main reasons for the Israel-Palestine conflict and discuss what is America’s role in this conflict and what can be the permanent solution to this ongoing conflict ?

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