3.4.Birth of Israel
Jews : Jerusalem features prominently in the Hebrew Bible. In the Jewish tradition, it is the place where Abraham, the first Patriarch of Judaism, nearly sacrificed his son Isaac to God thousands of years ago. Later, Abraham’s grandson Jacob (who took the name “Israel”) learned that Jerusalem is “the site that the Lord your God will choose from among all your tribes, as a place established in His name,” according to the Book of Deuteronomy.
Jerusalem was the capital of King David’s Israel in the Hebrew Bible, as well as the city where David’s son Solomon built his temple. In biblical times, Jewish people who could not make a pilgrimage to the city were supposed to pray in the direction of it.
Muslims : According to the Quran, Jerusalem was also the last place the Prophet Muhammad visited before he ascended to the heavens and talked to God in the seventh century. Before that, he was flown from Mecca to Jerusalem overnight by a mythical creature.
Both this miraculous night journey and his communion with God are important events in Islam. During the night journey, Muhammad was purified in preparation for his meeting with God.
Once in heaven, God told Muhammad that he should recite the salat, or ritual prayer, 50 times each day. However, Muhammad begged God to reduce the number to five times a day, which is the current standard for Muslim prayer.
Muhammad saw his mission as an extension of the Abrahamic traditions of Judaism and Christianity. Therefore, the first Qibla, or direction in which Muslims should pray, was Jerusalem (today, Muslims bow towards Mecca). In addition, Islamic tradition predicts that Jerusalem will play an important role in the future, naming it as one of the cities where the end of the world will play out.
Christians : Jerusalem is also the place where Jesus preached, died and was resurrected. Many also see the city as central to an imminent ‘Second Coming of Jesus’. Jerusalem is now a major pilgrimage site for Christians from around the world.
Why the city feels so crucial to Muslims, Jews and many Christians.
At the centre of Jerusalem sit three major holy sites:
1.The Al-Aqsa mosque, the third holiest site in the world for Muslims;
2. The Western Wall, part of the holiest site in the world for Jews;
3. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which marks the place where many Christians believe Jesus was crucified, entombed and resurrected.
How did all of these holy sites end up in one place?
It depends on whom you ask.
1.Jerusalem is central to the geography and events of the Hebrew Bible, and the Hebrew Bible has, in various ways, exerted profound influence on Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Jews pray facing Jerusalem. Jewish rabbinical teachings hold that when the Messiah comes, the temple will be rebuilt. Today, one of the old retaining walls of the Temple — called the Western Wall — is a principal worship site for Jews.
2.For Christians, Jerusalem is also the place where Jesus preached, died and was resurrected. Many also see the city as central to an imminent Second Coming of Jesus. Jerusalem is now a major pilgrimage site for Christians from around the world.
3.For Muslims, Jerusalem is a site of key events in the life of Jesus and other important figures. It’s also the spot where, according to traditional interpretations of the Koran and other texts, the prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven. Mohammed was carried from Mecca to Jerusalem, and then from Jerusalem into the heavens, where he conversed with prophets before returning to earth.
For more than 1,300 years, there have been Muslim shrines in Jerusalem.
Background
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict dates back to the end of the nineteenth century.
In 1947, the United Nations adopted Resolution 181, known as the Partition Plan, which sought to divide the British Mandate of Palestine into Arab and Jewish states.
On May 14, 1948, the State of Israel was created, sparking the first Arab-Israeli War. The war ended in 1949 with Israel’s victory, but 750,000 Palestinians were displaced and the territory was divided into 3 parts: the State of Israel, the West Bank (of the Jordan River), and the Gaza Strip.
Over the following years, tensions rose in the region, particularly between Israel and Egypt, Jordan, and Syria.
Following the 1956 Suez Crisis and Israel’s invasion of the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, Jordan, and Syria signed mutual defense pacts in anticipation of a possible mobilization of Israel troops. In June 1967, following a series of manoeuvres by Egyptian President Abdel Gamal Nasser, Israel preemptively attacked Egyptian and Syrian air forces, starting the Six-Day War.
After the war, Israel gained territorial control over the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip from Egypt; the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan; and the Golan Heights from Syria.
Six years later, in what is referred to as the Yom Kippur War or the October War, Egypt and Syria launched a surprise two-front attack on Israel to regain their lost territory; the conflict did not result in significant gains for Egypt, Israel, or Syria, but Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat declared the war a victory for Egypt as it allowed Egypt and Syria to negotiate over previously ceded territory.
Finally, in 1979, following a series of cease-fires and peace negotiations, representatives from Egypt and Israel signed the Camp David Accords, a peace treaty that ended the thirty-year conflict between Egypt and Israel.
Even though the Camp David Accords improved relations between Israel and its neighbours, the question of Palestinian self-determination and self-governance remained unresolved.
In 1987, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip rose up against the Israeli government in what is known as the first intifada. The 1993 Oslo I Accords mediated the conflict, setting up a framework for the Palestinians to govern themselves in the West Bank and Gaza, and enabled mutual recognition between the newly established Palestinian Authority and Israel’s government. In 1995, the Oslo II Accords expanded on the first agreement, adding provisions that mandated the complete withdrawal of Israel from 6 cities and 450 towns in the West Bank.
In 2000, sparked in part by Palestinian grievances over Israel’s control over the West Bank, a stagnating peace process, and former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s visit to the al-Aqsa mosque—the third holiest site in Islam—in September 2000,
Palestinians launched the second intifada, which would last until 2005. In response, the Israeli government approved construction of a barrier wall around the West Bank in 2002, despite opposition from the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.
In 2013, the United States attempted to revive the peace process between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. However, peace talks were disrupted when Fatah—the Palestinian Authority’s ruling party—formed a unity government with its rival faction Hamas in 2014. Hamas, a spin-off of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood founded in 1987 following the first intifada, is one of two major Palestinian political parties and was designated a foreign terrorist organization by the United States in 1997.
In the summer of 2014, clashes in the Palestinian territories precipitated a military confrontation between the Israeli military and Hamas in which Hamas fired nearly three thousand rockets at Israel, and Israel retaliated with a major offensive in Gaza. The skirmish ended in late August 2014 with a cease-fire deal brokered by Egypt, but only after 73 Israelis and 2,251 Palestinians were killed. After a wave of violence between Israelis and Palestinians in 2015, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced that Palestinians would no longer be bound by the territorial divisions created by the Oslo Accords. In March and May of 2018, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip conducted weekly demonstrations at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. The final protest coincided with the seventieth anniversary of the Nakba, the Palestinian exodus that accompanied Israeli independence. While most of the protesters were peaceful, some stormed the perimeter fence and threw rocks and other objects. According to the United Nations, 183 demonstrators were killed and more than 6,000 were wounded by live ammunition.
Also in May of 2018, fighting broke out between Hamas and the Israeli military in what became the worst period of violence since 2014. Before reaching a cease-fire, militants in Gaza fired over one hundred rockets into Israel; Israel responded with strikes on more than fifty targets in Gaza during the twenty-four-hour flare-up.
The Donald J. Trump administration set achieving an Israeli-Palestinian deal as a foreign policy priority. In 2018, the Trump administration canceled funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency, which provides aid to Palestinian refugees, and relocated the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a reversal of a longstanding U.S. policy. The decision to move the U.S. embassy was met with applause from the Israeli leadership but was condemned by Palestinian leaders and others in the Middle East and Europe. Israel considers the “complete and united Jerusalem” its capital, while Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state.
In January 2020, the Trump administration released its long-awaited “Peace to Prosperity” plan, which was rejected by Palestinians due to its support for future Israeli annexation of settlements in the West Bank and control over an “undivided” Jerusalem.
In August and September 2020, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and then Bahrain agreed to normalize relations with Israel, making them only the third and fourth countries in the region—following Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994—to do so. The agreements, named the Abraham Accords, came more than eighteen months after the United States hosted Israel and several Arab states for ministerial talks in Warsaw, Poland, about the future of peace in the Middle East. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas rejected the accords; Hamas also rejected the agreements.
Oct 7 ,2023 ,Hamas’ horrific terror attack on Israel and the consequent war in Gaza began. In the early hours of Oct. 7, Hamas launched a coordinated assault on Israeli civilian settlements, military bases, and the Nova music festival along Israel’s southern border with Gaza. In addition to firing 5,000 rockets into Israel, Hamas fighters also physically breached the border and carried out a surprise attack, including widespread sexual violence, which resulted in over 1,194 fatalities, 4,834 injuries, and the taking of more than 253 hostages, 130 of whom are still in captivity.
In response, Israel initiated Operation Swords of Iron, with the dual objectives of safeguarding Israel and securing the release of all hostages.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICq9nhQxVY8
Palestine Liberation Groups & Anti-Israel Groups
1.PLO
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) is a political and paramilitary organization founded in 1964 with the primary goal of creating an independent State of Palestine. Here's a brief history:
Formation and Early Years (1964-1967)
1964: The PLO was established during the first Arab League summit in Cairo, with the purpose of representing the Palestinian people in their struggle for independence. Ahmad Shukeiri was the first chairman.
The organization initially focused on uniting various Palestinian factions under a single umbrella, advocating for the liberation of Palestine through armed struggle against Israel.
Rise of Yasser Arafat and Fatah's Influence (1967-1993)
1967: After the Six-Day War, in which Israel occupied the West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights, the PLO gained significant attention as a symbol of Palestinian resistance.
1969: Yasser Arafat, leader of the Fatah faction, became the chairman of the PLO. Under his leadership, the PLO became more influential, with Fatah emerging as the dominant faction.
The PLO engaged in various military operations against Israel, which led to conflicts with neighboring Arab countries, particularly Jordan (Black September in 1970) and Lebanon (Lebanese Civil War).
1974: The Arab League recognized the PLO as the "sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people," and the United Nations granted it observer status.
The Oslo Accords and Transition to Diplomacy (1993-2000)
1993: The PLO and Israel signed the Oslo Accords, a landmark peace agreement that established the framework for the eventual creation of a Palestinian state. The PLO recognized Israel's right to exist, and in return, Israel recognized the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people.
1994: The Palestinian Authority (PA) was established as part of the Oslo Accords to govern parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with Arafat as its first president.
Challenges and Decline in Influence (2000-Present)
2000: The Second Intifada, a violent uprising against Israeli occupation, began. The PLO's influence was challenged by the rise of Hamas, an Islamist militant group that opposed the Oslo Accords and gained control of Gaza in 2007.
2004: Yasser Arafat died, and Mahmoud Abbas (also known as Abu Mazen) succeeded him as the PLO chairman and president of the Palestinian Authority.
In recent years, the PLO has faced internal divisions and reduced influence, as Hamas and other factions have gained power, particularly in Gaza.
Present Status
The PLO remains the recognized representative of the Palestinian people in international forums, but its authority is increasingly contested, especially by Hamas. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains unresolved, with peace negotiations stalled and tensions high.
The PLO's history is marked by its transition from armed struggle to diplomatic efforts, though the goal of a fully independent Palestinian state remains unfulfilled.
2.Alfatah
Al-Fatah, often referred to simply as Fatah, is a major Palestinian political and military organization and the largest faction within the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Here’s a brief history:
Formation and Early Activities (1950s-1967)
1959: Fatah was founded by a group of Palestinian activists, including Yasser Arafat, Khalil al-Wazir (Abu Jihad), and Salah Khalaf (Abu Iyad), among others. The name "Fatah" is derived from the Arabic phrase "Harakat al-Tahrir al-Watani al-Filastini," meaning "Palestinian National Liberation Movement."
The group was established with the aim of liberating Palestine through armed struggle against Israel. Fatah initially operated independently of the Arab states and the PLO, focusing on guerrilla warfare and sabotage missions.
1965: Fatah carried out its first military operation against Israel, marking the beginning of its armed struggle. This operation, and subsequent ones, established Fatah's reputation as a leading Palestinian resistance movement.
Rise to Prominence (1967-1987)
1967: After the Six-Day War, in which Israel occupied the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem, Fatah's influence grew rapidly among Palestinians. The war's outcome intensified Palestinian nationalism and the desire for a unified resistance movement.
1969: Yasser Arafat became the chairman of the PLO, and Fatah emerged as the dominant faction within the organization. Under Arafat's leadership, Fatah pursued both military operations and political diplomacy to advance the Palestinian cause.
Fatah played a central role in the Palestinian resistance during the 1970s and 1980s, including its involvement in the Lebanese Civil War and various conflicts with Israel.
Shift Towards Diplomacy (1987-2000)
1987: The First Intifada, a Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation, began. Although not initiated by Fatah, the movement's leadership played a crucial role in organizing the resistance.
1988: The PLO, dominated by Fatah, officially recognized Israel's right to exist and endorsed a two-state solution, a significant shift from its earlier stance advocating the complete liberation of Palestine.
1993: Fatah, as part of the PLO, was instrumental in negotiating the Oslo Accords with Israel. The accords led to the establishment of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and granted limited self-governance to Palestinians in parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Internal Challenges and Decline in Influence (2000-Present)
2000: The Second Intifada began, marked by widespread violence and a breakdown in the peace process. Fatah's dominance was increasingly challenged by Hamas, an Islamist group that opposed the Oslo Accords and advocated for continued armed resistance.
2004: Yasser Arafat, the long-time leader of Fatah, passed away. Mahmoud Abbas succeeded him as the leader of Fatah and president of the Palestinian Authority.
2006: In the Palestinian legislative elections, Hamas won a significant victory over Fatah, leading to a power struggle between the two factions. In 2007, Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip, leaving Fatah in control of the West Bank.
Present: Fatah continues to dominate the Palestinian Authority and the PLO, but its influence is limited by internal divisions and the ongoing conflict with Hamas. Efforts to reconcile the two factions have repeatedly failed, contributing to the political fragmentation of the Palestinian territories.
3.Hamas
Background and Formation of Hamas
Establishment: Hamas, an acronym for "Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya" (Islamic Resistance Movement), was founded in 1987 during the First Intifada by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and other members of the Muslim Brotherhood in Gaza.
Its primary objective is the liberation of Palestine from Israeli occupation and the establishment of an Islamic state in the historical territory of Palestine.
Ideology: Rooted in Sunni Islamic fundamentalism, Hamas combines Palestinian nationalism with Islamist goals. Its original charter called for the destruction of Israel, though in recent years, some leaders have signaled a willingness to accept a Palestinian state based on 1967 borders without formally recognizing Israel.
Governance of the Gaza Strip
2006 Elections: In a surprising outcome, Hamas won the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections, defeating the rival Fatah party. This led to heightened tensions between the two factions.
Control Over Gaza: Following a violent conflict with Fatah in 2007, Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip. Since then, it has governed the territory, leading to a political split between the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and the Fatah-administered West Bank.
Recurring Conflicts with Israel
Military Engagements: Since assuming control of Gaza, Hamas has been involved in multiple armed conflicts with Israel, including major operations in 2008-2009, 2012, 2014, and subsequent flare-ups. These conflicts typically involve rocket attacks from Gaza into Israeli territory and significant Israeli military responses.
Blockade and Humanitarian Impact: In response to Hamas's control and its refusal to recognize Israel, Israel (with Egypt's cooperation) has imposed a land, air, and sea blockade on the Gaza Strip since 2007. This has led to severe humanitarian challenges, including shortages of essential goods, limited access to medical care, and widespread economic hardship for Gaza's residents.
Recent Escalations and Ceasefires
Periodic Flare-Ups: The period leading up to 2023 saw several escalations, with both sides engaging in hostilities. Notably, in May 2021, tensions in East Jerusalem spilled over into an 11-day conflict between Hamas and Israel, resulting in significant casualties and infrastructural damage in Gaza.
Ceasefire Agreements: These conflicts often conclude with Egyptian or international mediation leading to temporary ceasefires. However, the underlying issues remain unresolved, leading to a cycle of violence.
Internal and External Challenges
Political Isolation: Many Western countries and entities designate Hamas as a terrorist organization, leading to its political isolation. However, it maintains relationships with countries like Iran, Qatar, and Turkey.
Internal Palestinian Divisions: The rift between Hamas and Fatah has hindered efforts toward Palestinian political unity, complicating peace negotiations with Israel. Reconciliation attempts have been made but have yet to produce lasting results.
The ongoing Hamas-Israel conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, has escalated into one of the deadliest confrontations in the history of the region.
As of August 2024, the conflict has led to significant casualties and widespread devastation, primarily in the Gaza Strip.
Casualties and Impact: Since the start of the conflict, over 39,790 people in Gaza have been killed, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, though these figures are contested and may include both civilians and combatants. On the Israeli side, 689 soldiers have been killed, with over 4,300 wounded.
Military Operations: Israel has been conducting extensive military operations against Hamas, targeting key figures and infrastructure. For example, a recent Israeli airstrike eliminated Walid al-Sousi, a senior Hamas commander responsible for intelligence and security operations in southern Gaza.
Civilian Suffering: The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire. The ongoing blockade and relentless airstrikes have resulted in a massive displacement of civilians, with numerous reports of schools and shelters being bombed, leading to high civilian casualties.
International Response: There is growing international pressure for a ceasefire, with countries like Egypt accusing Israel of lacking the political will to end the conflict. Mediation efforts continue, though they have yet to yield a lasting resolution.
Regional Tensions: The conflict has also heightened tensions beyond Gaza, with Israel increasing its military readiness in the north amid fears of involvement from Hezbollah and Iran, particularly after recent targeted killings of key figures linked to these groups.
4.Hezbollah
Formation and Ideology:
Hezbollah, meaning "Party of God," was founded in 1982 during the Lebanese Civil War, following Israel's invasion of Lebanon. It was established with the support of Iran's Revolutionary Guards and represents the interests of Lebanon’s Shiite Muslim community.
Hezbollah's ideology is rooted in Shia Islamism and emphasizes resistance against Israeli occupation and influence, not only in Lebanon but also across the broader Middle East.
Military and Political Role in Lebanon:
Hezbollah operates both as a political party and a paramilitary organization. It has a significant presence in Lebanon's government, holding seats in parliament and wielding considerable influence over Lebanese politics.
Its military wing is considered one of the most powerful non-state armed groups in the world, and it has been involved in numerous conflicts with Israel, particularly in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah-Israel Conflict:
Hezbollah is best known internationally for its conflict with Israel, particularly during the 2006 Lebanon War. The conflict was marked by extensive rocket attacks on northern Israel and a strong military response by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in Lebanon.
Since the 2006 war, Hezbollah has continued to build its military capabilities, amassing an arsenal of rockets and engaging in occasional skirmishes with Israeli forces along the border.
Role in the Syrian Civil War:
Hezbollah has played a crucial role in the Syrian Civil War, fighting alongside the Syrian government forces of President Bashar al-Assad. This involvement has been at the behest of Iran, Hezbollah's primary patron, to protect the Assad regime and maintain the axis of resistance against Israel and Western influence in the region.
The group's involvement in Syria has strengthened its military capabilities but also deepened sectarian divisions within Lebanon and the wider Middle East.
Global Influence and Controversy:
Hezbollah is designated as a terrorist organization by many countries, including the United States, Israel, and several European Union members, due to its involvement in acts of terrorism and its militant activities against Israel and other Western interests.
However, Hezbollah is also seen by many in the Arab and Muslim worlds as a legitimate resistance movement against Israeli occupation. It continues to receive substantial financial and military support from Iran, which enables it to maintain its influential role in the region.
