The Hindu Editorial Analysis-31st October 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

The Israel-Palestine conflict is at bend point

Why in News?

Recently, the Hamas, the militant group ruling the Gaza Strip, have mounted a scathing attack on Israel from the land, air and water leading to multiple casualties. This has revived the century-old dispute between Israel-Palestine Conflict once again, necessitating the intervention by global and regional powers.

What is the Israel-Palestine Conflict?

• Balfour Declaration (1917): British Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour officially supported a Jewish "national home" in Palestine.
• Creation of Palestine (1948): Britain withdrew from Palestine, leaving the United Nations responsible for resolving the conflicts between Arabs and Jews.
• UN Partition Plan: Proposed independent Jewish and Arab states in Palestine, but was not accepted by most Arab nations. Jordan controlled the West Bank and Jerusalem, while Egypt controlled Gaza Strip.
• Arab-Israeli War (1948): Surrounding Arab states attacked Israel after its declaration of independence. Israel ended up with about 50% more territory than the UN partition plan.
• Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO): Formed in 1964 to free Palestine from Israeli control. Gained observer status at the UN in 1975.
• Six-Day War (1967): Israel seized Golan Heights, West Bank, East Jerusalem, Sinai Peninsula, and Gaza Strip.
• Camp David Accords (1978): U.S.-brokered agreement aimed at Middle East peace, but didn't fully resolve the Palestinian issue.
• Emergence of Hamas (1987): Violent offshoot of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, seeks to achieve goals through violent means. Designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S.
• First Intifada (1987): Uprising in occupied territories between Palestinian militants and Israeli army.
• Oslo Accords (1993): Israel and PLO recognized each other, renounced violence. Established Palestinian Authority with limited autonomy in Gaza Strip and parts of West Bank.
• Israeli Withdrawal from Gaza (2005): Israel unilaterally removed Jewish settlements from Gaza but maintained control over border crossings.
• UN Recognition of Palestinian State (2012): Upgraded Palestinian representation to "non-member observer state" status.
• Territorial Disputes:
  • West Bank: Controlled by Israel since 1967 war, with established settlements.
  • Gaza Strip: Occupied by Israel in 1967, some control relinquished during Oslo peace process. Israel controls international access.
  • Golan Heights: Captured by Israel from Syria in 1967, effectively annexed in 1981. Recognized as part of Israel by the USA.

How has the relationship of India with Israel evolved over the years ?

• Opposition to UN Partition Plan: In 1947, India was among the rare countries to reject the UN's partition plan, drawing parallels with its own struggle for independence.

• Recognition of Israel and PLO: India acknowledged Israel's existence in 1950, becoming the first non-Arab nation to do so. Simultaneously, it recognized the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) as the exclusive representative of the Palestinian people. Additionally, India was among the early nations to acknowledge Palestine as a state in 1988.

• Shift Towards Dehyphenation: Recent developments suggest a shift in India's approach, moving away from a historically pro-Palestine stance. This transformation reflects a delicate balancing act, considering India's long-standing amicable relations with Israel.

• Perceived Pro-Israel Stance: India's current stance is increasingly viewed as pro-Israel in recent years, marking a departure from its traditional pro-Palestine position.

• Support for Two-State Solution: India advocates a Two-State Solution for the Israel-Palestine conflict, emphasizing the right to self-determination for both nations through peaceful means.

What is the Impact of Assault on Israel-Saudi Arabia Ties ?

• One of the reasons for Hamas' assault on Israel can be attributed to disrupting efforts to bring Saudi Arabia and Israel together, along with other countries that may be interested in normalizing relations with Israel.
• Hamas had highlighted threats to Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque, the continuation of an Israeli blockade on Gaza and Israeli normalization with countries in the region.
• Dehyphening Saudi Arabia from Israel will help promote the agenda of Muslim Brotherhood and territorial sovereignty over the Arab and Middle East region.
• Normalization of ties of regional powers with Israel will further embolden and strengthen the position of Israel vis-a-vis reclaiming Palestinian territories.
• Ties with UAE,Egypt,Saudi Arabia etc will provide a vigorous push to infrastructural development, and create inter-dependence and inter-relationships among these countries, much to the chagrin of Palestinians.

Way Forward

• Global Cooperation for Peace: There is a pressing need for the international community to unite in pursuit of a peaceful resolution. However, the reluctance of the Israeli government and other parties involved has exacerbated the situation.

• Balanced Approach for Favorable Relations: A balanced approach is crucial to maintain positive relations with both Arab nations and Israel.

• Abraham Accords as a Positive Step: The recent normalization agreements between Israel and countries like the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco, known as the Abraham Accords, represent positive strides towards peace.

• Emulating Abraham Accords for Peace: It is imperative that all regional powers strive for a similar peace initiative between Israel and its neighboring countries, following the example set by the Abraham Accords.

• India's Multilateral Role: India, currently holding non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council for 2021-22 and re-elected to the Human Rights Council for 2022-24, has a significant role to play.

• Mediator Role for India: India should leverage its position in these multilateral forums to act as a mediator in the resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict. This requires strenuous efforts in collaboration with all relevant parties to ensure security and stability in the Middle East and West Asia.