Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

The Israeli–Palestinian conflict is an ongoing military and political
conflict about land and self-determination

• Can you explain the origins of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its key historical milestones?
• Who are the main parties involved in the conflict, and what are their primary
  objectives?
• What were the significant events that have shaped the current state of the
  conflict?
• What have been the major peace initiatives and agreements attempted to
  resolve the conflict?
• How has the conflict evolved in recent years, and what are the current
  challenges to peace?

Gaza Strip

• Location: The Gaza Strip is a coastal Palestinian region along the Mediterranean Sea, bordered by Israel and Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. Together with the West Bank, it forms the State of Palestine, with Israel situated between the two territories.
• Governance: Hamas, a politico-military entity, has administered the Gaza Strip since its electoral victory in 2006.
• Control: While Israel maintains authority over Gaza’s airspace and coastline, it has also implemented limitations on goods entering the territory. Additionally, Egypt manages its border with Gaza.

West Bank

• Location: This territory is landlocked and is bordered by Israel and Jordan, with the Dead Sea marking part of its boundary.
• Administration: A section of Jerusalem is within the West Bank. The region is governed by Fatah, previously recognized as the Palestinian National Liberation Movement.

Jerusalem

• Location: Located on a plateau in the Judean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea. It’s roughly in the centre of Israel and is bordered by several Palestinian territories.
• Administration: Jerusalem is divided into several districts: Jewish-majority West Jerusalem and the
  predominantly Palestinian East Jerusalem, which includes the Old City.
• It holds profound significance for three major world religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The Israeli government operates out of Jerusalem, with the Knesset and the residence of the President and Prime Minister located in the city.

India’s Stand on Israel Palestine Conflict: India supports a two-state solution, maintaining diplomatic ties with both Israel and Palestine, advocating peaceful resolution, and balancing strategic partnerships while emphasizing historical support for the Palestinian cause. Several dimensions of India’s stand on the Israel-Palestine conflict include:

Background
Palestine tilt: India favoured Palestine for multiple reasons

• Gandhiji’s disapproval of a Jewish state.
• A significant Muslim demographic
• Ties with Arab nations.
• UN Voting Patterns
• India voted against the partition of Palestine and opposed Israel’s UN admission.
• Shift in the Policy
• Post-Cold War Developments: After the Cold War, Prime Minister Narasimha Rao decisively formed diplomatic
  relations with Israel, overlooking potential repercussions from Arab countries. 1992 saw India form complete
  diplomatic ties with Israel, a pivotal move. India, however, persisted in its advocacy for Palestine.

India’s Diplomatic Balance:

• Strengthening Ties with Israel
• Recent years have seen India-Israel relations grow across sectors like trade, defence, technology, and counterterrorism.
• India’s backing for Israel is partly attributed to its challenges with cross-border terrorism, though the circumstances in both countries vary.

Despite closer ties with Israel, India maintains its support for Palestine. India donated money and medical assistance to UNRWA for Palestinian refugees

De-hyphenation Diplomacy: De-hyphenate in international diplomacy simply means having an independent relation with particular country, irrespective of any other country getting offended.

• 2017: Indian Prime Minister’s maiden visit to Israel.
• 2018: First official visit to Palestine.
• India, in 2017, voted against the US and Israel regarding Jerusalem’s unilateral declaration as the Israeli capital.
• While India denounces terrorism, it opposes unfettered retaliation bombings.

India’s Unwavering Position

• India advocates a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine to coexist peacefully.
• The 1991 Madrid Peace Conference, mediated by the US, endorsed the two-state solution.
• Indian Prime Minister’s 2018 trip to Ramallah in the West Bank underscores this stance.

Implications of Israel-Palestine conflict on India

• Defence Ties with Israel: Israel is a top military equipment supplier to India, with defence deals valued at about USD 2.1
  billion. Such supplies might get delayed.
• Concerns about Energy Security: Regional disturbances can influence energy prices, thus affecting India’s economic
  landscape.
• Implications for India-Middle East-Europe Corridor: India inked the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)
  pact.

Possible Solution to the Israel-Palestine Conflict : Conflicts with deep historical roots and varying
interests require continuous and multiple stakeholder collaboration for peace efforts. Some of the
possible solutions to the conflict include:

Two-state solution: Establishing a sovereign Palestinian nation next to Israel
One-state solution: One nation where both Jews and Palestinians possess equal privileges.
Alliance model: Pairing two nations with combined duties and free transit between them.
Border realignments: Modifying boundaries based on the present-day situation, trading lands settled
by Israelis.
Joint capital in Jerusalem: The city acting as a mutual capital or under global governance.
Refugee repatriation: Tackling the issue of Palestinian refugees’ return, with potential compensation
or alternative settlement solutions.
Disarmament: Forming a weapon-free Palestinian nation to mitigate Israeli defence apprehensions.
Financial Infusion: Global funding to strengthen Palestine’s economy and enhance living standards.
Inter-national collaboration: Engaging adjacent Arab nations to promote regional harmony and
teamwork.
Community Diplomacy efforts: Localized campaigns fostering unity between Israeli and Palestinian
residents.

The two-state solution has long been proposed as the best hope for peace in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It envisions an independent Palestinian state established alongside the existing state of Israel, giving both peoples their own territory . Here are some key points about this proposal:
The two-state solution aims to create two separate nation-states within the former Mandatory Palestine: Israel for the Jewish people and Palestine for the Palestinian people. It is officially endorsed by most of the international community, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the United Nations.

Challenges:

Settlements: Israel has built settlements in the West Bank, leaving up to 10% of the hypothetical Palestinian territory crisscrossed by Jewish-populated areas. Some proposals suggest compensating Palestinians through land swaps.

Jerusalem: The division or shared control of Jerusalem remains a contentious issue. Israel considers Jerusalem its “eternal and indivisible” capital.

Right of Return: The solution does not directly address the demand for the “right of return” for Palestinians whose families fled or were expelled from what is now Israeli territory between 1948 and 1967.

While challenges persist, the two-state solution remains a widely supported framework for resolving this complex conflict.