*This article was co-written with the assistance of Chat GPT-3

It feels as if the past year has been the year of the geopolitical conflict, with what has now accumulated to two hot wars in the East including four different countries.

In the realm of international dispute, the Israel-Palestine issue stands as one of the most nuanced and longstanding tragedies. In the past decade no geopolitical issue has broken into the collective consciousness as aggressively as what continues to unfold in Gaza.

In this piece, I’ll attempt to take a brief journey through the history, key players, and differing perspectives that have shaped a century’s old and bloodstained saga.

To begin to understand the nuance of Israel + Palestine is to venture a century back in time.

A Movement Emerges:

The Zionist movement was a significant and transformative socio-political ideology that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

It called for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine, which was then part of the Ottoman Empire and later under British control.

The modern Zionist movement is often associated with Theodor Herzl, an Austrian-Jewish journalist and writer. In 1896, Herzl published “The Jewish State,” a seminal work that laid out the case for establishing a Jewish homeland.

Zionism – Central to the ideology of Zionism is the belief in Jewish self-determination and the return of Jews to their historical homeland in Palestine, which holds deep religious and historical significance.

Understanding Zionism helps us better understand what many consider “the plight of the Palestinians” who see the Israel-settled land as their captured god-given claim.

While Zionism is not a religious doctrine, it is equally important understand it’s opposing force in the conflict – fundamentalist Jihadism.

Jihadist ideologies often embrace extremist interpretations of Islam, which can include the belief in the necessity of armed conflict to establish a particular form of Islamic rule or to combat perceived enemies.

Jihadist extremists who carry out acts of violence, including terrorism, often believe that they are promised specific rewards in the afterlife as a result of their actions. These beliefs are rooted in their interpretation of Islamic teachings and their extremist ideology. Some of the promises they believe they will receive include:

Martyrdom and Paradise: Jihadist extremists may believe that by sacrificing their lives in the cause of violent jihad, they will attain martyrdom. They expect to be rewarded with entry into paradise, where they will enjoy eternal bliss and proximity to God.

Rewards for Jihad: They anticipate receiving spiritual rewards and blessings for participating in jihad. This can include forgiveness of their sins and the opportunity to intercede on behalf of family members and loved ones.

Physical Rewards: Some extremists anticipate physical rewards in the afterlife, such as eternal youth, beauty, and a life of luxury.

Houri (Virgins): A belief held by some extremists is that male martyrs will be rewarded with virgins (often referred to as “houri”) in paradise. This concept is drawn from certain interpretations of Islamic texts.

It’s important to note that the majority of Muslims reject jihadism and view it as a perversion of their faith. Jihadism is associated with a small subset of extremist groups that do not represent the broader Islamic community. Additionally, the term “jihad” itself has multiple meanings in Islam, including the personal struggle for self-improvement and the peaceful defense of one’s faith.

One can begin to understand how when two neighboring peoples share a boarder – one with an intention to create a homeland where it’s people can avoid religious persecution and the other with a zealous understanding that progressing a global muslim order will be met with spiritual abundance in the afterlife – things can go very wrong.

But back to the history lesson.

The Birth of a Nation:

After World War I and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the British Mandate of Palestine took shape in 1920. Jewish and Arab communities both had claims to the land, setting the stage for friction.

The United Nations and the Partition Plan:

In 1947, the United Nations proposed a partition plan, which aimed to divide Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states with Jerusalem under international administration. The Jewish leadership accepted, while Arab leaders rejected it, sparking the first Arab-Israeli war in 1948.

The Arab-Israeli Conflicts:

Over the decades, tensions have erupted into a series of wars and uprisings. The Six-Day War in 1967 saw Israel seize the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. The Yom Kippur War in 1973, followed by intermittent clashes, underscored the deep-rooted divisions.

The Quest for Peace:

International efforts have persistently sought a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The Oslo Accords of 1993 aimed to establish a framework for future negotiations. Subsequent efforts, such as the Camp David Summit in 2000 and the Annapolis Conference in 2007, have shown promise but ultimately failed to yield a lasting peace agreement.

Two-State Solution:

The crux of the issue lies in the competing claims over territory. Israel insists on its right to exist and to have secure borders, while Palestinians yearn for self-determination and statehood. The two-state solution, which envisions a Palestinian state alongside Israel, remains a central proposal for resolving the conflict.

Differing Narratives:

Central to the debate are the narratives of both sides. Israelis emphasize their historical ties to the land, while Palestinians highlight their right of return and the injustice of displacement. The complexity of these narratives often leads to misunderstandings and deep-seated animosity.

It’s this logic of both sides; feeling that they have a morally justified point of view which makes the atrocities unfolding so insidious. On one hand you have a Jihadist led insurgency hell-bent on reclaiming holy land for the promise of paradise, and on the other have a nation aggressively defending it’s border, it’s citizens and it’s western values.

The Road Ahead:

The Israel-Palestine conflict is characterized by its intricate history and multifaceted dimensions. Finding a just and lasting solution requires a deep understanding of the past and a shared commitment to dialogue and negotiation.

As we navigate the turbulent waters of this enduring conflict, one can only remain hopeful that a future of peace and coexistence is not beyond reach. The conflict remains a subject of global concern and debate, with various stakeholders advocating for peace and seeking to bridge divides.