Where Does the Conflict Take Place

To understand the motivations behind any conflict, we must first understand where it takes place — not just geographically, but in terms of its strategic, historical, and symbolic significance. The Israel–Palestine conflict is concentrated in a small yet highly contested area in the Middle East, at the crossroads of Africa, Asia, and Europe.

The central territories are:

• Israel: A recognized sovereign state located on the eastern Mediterranean coast.

• The West Bank: A landlocked area to the east of Israel, bordered by Jordan, partially governed by the Palestinian Authority.

• The Gaza Strip: A densely populated coastal enclave to the southwest, bordered by Egypt and Israel, controlled by Hamas.

• East Jerusalem: Claimed as a capital by both Israelis and Palestinians, with deep religious and political importance.

This region is small in size, but it is very important to both sides for historical, political, and religious reasons. Understanding the land and its meaning helps to understand why both sides feel strongly about it.

Historical Background

In the early 20th century, a movement called Zionism began to grow. Zionism viewed Judaism not only as a faith, but as a national identity¹. And a nation, many believed, needs its own land to be safe and free. Many Zionists looked to Palestine, then part of the Ottoman Empire, where Jews and Muslims had lived together for centuries². The idea was to return to the land of King David, around 1000 BCE.

Picture: https://www.dw.com/en/which-countries-recognize-palestinian-statehood/a-69168152

King David is a central figure in Jewish history — he is believed to have ruled in Jerusalem and made it the spiritual and political center of ancient Israel³. Many Jews see a deep historical and religious connection to this land because their prophets lived there, and it is considered holy in Jewish tradition.

At the same time, Jewish communities had faced centuries of discrimination and persecution in Europe and elsewhere. Many Jews saw Palestine as a safe place, where they could live freely and escape violence. The holiness of the land and its role in Jewish history gave Zionists a strong sense of belonging and purpose in returning there⁴.

Over 200,000 Jews migrated to Palestine during this time. However, many Arabs in the region opposed this change. They had hopes of creating an Arab kingdom stretching from Damascus to Mecca.

After World War I, the Ottoman Empire collapsed and Palestine came under British control in 1920 as a Mandate territory. In 1924, the land was divided: Transjordan (now Jordan) was created in the east, while in British-controlled Palestine, a plan was made to allow a Jewish homeland—without harming the rights of the Arab population. However, as tensions grew, Britain found itself unable to maintain order. Violence escalated, especially between Arab and Jewish communities, and Britain faced resistance from both sides⁵.

By the 1940s, Britain was economically weakened from World War II and overstretched by its global colonial commitments. After the Holocaust, where over 6 million Jews were killed, support for a Jewish state grew around the world. 250,000 Holocaust survivors waited to move to Palestine, but Britain blocked their entry, fearing more violence. Britain limited Jewish immigration, especially during and after the Holocaust, which led to global criticism⁶. Jewish militias began attacking British forces, while Arab leaders rejected British policies.

Realizing they could no longer control the situation, the British government decided to withdraw and hand the issue over to the newly formed United Nations (UN) in 1947. The UN was tasked with finding a solution that could end the conflict and establish peace.

The UN proposed a plan to divide Palestine into two separate states — one for Jews (Israel) and one for Arabs (Palestine). Jerusalem would be controlled by an international body because of its religious significance. As part of this plan, Jewish immigration into the region would be allowed, giving many Jews hope for a safe and legal future in the land⁵.

Picture: https://aijac.org.au/fresh-air/disappearing-palestine-the-maps-that-lie/.

This map offers only a simplified view and has been criticized as inaccurate by some. It should not be seen as a definitive representation

Jerusalem: A Symbolic and Religious Center

A major focus of the conflict is the city of Jerusalem, which holds holy sites for all three Abrahamic religions⁷.

• For Jews, the Temple Mount (Mount Moriah) is believed to be the site where Abraham was tested by God, and where the Jewish Temples once stood. The Western Wall (or Wailing Wall), a remnant of the Second Temple, is one of the holiest sites in Judaism.

• For Muslims, the same area is home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, where Prophet Muhammad is believed to have ascended to heaven. The site is considered the third holiest in Islam.

These overlapping claims have led to ongoing tension, which is why the UN planned international control over the city. However, in 1948, Israel controlled West Jerusalem, while East Jerusalem, including the Old City, came under Jordanian control⁵ .

Continued Conflict and Shifting Dynamics

The region remained unstable. In the 1960s, Egypt’s President Gamal Abdel Nasser formed alliances with Syria and Jordan and threatened to destroy Israel. In 1967, Israel launched a preemptive strike, beginning the Six-Day War⁸. Israel captured Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights — a major victory, but a deep humiliation for Arab leaders.

Following this, the Arab world declared: no peace, no recognition, no negotiations with Israel. In 1973, Egypt and Syria launched the Yom Kippur War. Though Israel held its ground, the Arab alliance weakened.

In 1978, the United States brokered peace talks between Israel and Egypt, leading to the Camp David Accords⁹. Egypt recognized Israel, and Israel returned the Sinai Peninsula. Other Arab states slowly followed: Jordan, Morocco, Sudan.

From Arab–Israeli War to Israeli–Palestinian Conflict

As regional wars subsided, the focus shifted to Israel’s control over Palestinian territories and the status of Palestinian refugees. Many young Palestinians, frustrated by life in refugee camps and lack of statehood, joined guerrilla movements - groups that use small, mobile units to carry out surprise attacks against a stronger opponent, aiming to weaken them over time without engaging in direct, large-scale battles ¹⁰.

One such group was Fatah, led by Yasser Arafat, aiming to liberate Palestine through armed resistance. Over time, Fatah became part of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)¹¹, which claimed to represent all Palestinians worldwide and sought both independence and the end of Israel.

In the 1970s, the PLO conducted attacks and hijackings to gain attention. The most infamous was the 1972 Munich Olympics attack, where 11 Israeli athletes were killed by the Black September group¹². Israel responded with targeted assassinations and military action. These events deepened divisions and worsened conditions for Palestinians.

Picture: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-57924111

Settlements, Hamas, and Renewed Violence

After the 1967 war, Israeli settlements grew in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, often supported by the government. The UN has called these settlements illegal under international law, but Israel argues that historical and security reasons justify them¹³.

In 1987, a new force emerged: Hamas, an Islamist group founded in Gaza. That year also saw the First Intifada — a Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation¹⁴. Violence escalated; over 1,000 Palestinians and 100 Israelis died. This unrest increased calls for peace on both sides.

In 1993, at the Oslo Accords, Israel and the PLO agreed to mutual recognition and steps towards peace¹⁵. Palestinians gained limited self-rule through the Palestinian Authority, with Arafat as president.

However, extremists on both sides opposed peace. In 1995, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by a Jewish extremist¹⁶. Trust broke down, and a Second Intifada¹⁷ (2000–2005) erupted, involving terror attacks and military crackdowns. Thousands died.

Israel built barriers and checkpoints for security, while Hamas gained power in Gaza, launching rockets into Israel. Israel responded with airstrikes and blockades. Gaza’s population now lives in poverty and insecurity.

Ongoing Crisis

Today, millions of Palestinian refugees remain without recognized statehood or resettlement, and many countries do not recognize Palestine as a state, including Germany¹⁸. Neighboring Arab states often refuse to integrate refugees, leaving them without clear rights or future prospects.

A two-state solution remains the most discussed path to peace, but it would require hard compromises from both sides, including land, security, and the status of Jerusalem.

Who Has Interests in the Outcome of This Conflict?

Conclusion

The conflict is not just local, but part of global power politics. Many actors want to influence it, but not necessarily solve it, if the status quo serves their interests.

Sources:

¹ Zionism as National Identity: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Zionism,

² Jewish-Muslim Coexistence in Ottoman Palestine: https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-44124396,

³ King David / Jerusalem’s Significance: https://www.britannica.com/biography/David,

⁴ Jewish Persecution in Europe: https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/introduction-to-the-holocaust,

⁵ History: https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-206581/,

⁶ Global Criticism: https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/british-restrictions-on-jewish-immigration-to-palestine,

⁷ Three Religions: https://www.beinharimtours.com/jerusalem-for-three-religions/,

⁸ Six Day War: https://www.britannica.com/event/Six-Day-War,

⁹ Camp David Accords: https://history.state.gov/milestones/1977-1980/camp-david,

¹⁰ Guerrilla Movements: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/oct/08/hamas-offensive-israel-west-bank-guerrilla-movement-gaza,

¹¹ PLO: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Palestine-Liberation-Organization,

¹² 1972: https://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/schwerpunkte/EN/histcom-1972/historikerkommission-1972-artikel.html,

¹³ International Law: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2019/01/chapter-3-israeli-settlements-and-international-law/,

¹⁴ Intifada: https://www.britannica.com/topic/intifada,

¹⁵ Oslo Accords: https://history.state.gov/milestones/1993-2000/oslo,

¹⁶ Rabin: https://www.britannica.com/topic/assassination-of-Yitzhak-Rabin,

¹⁷ Second Intifada: https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep13776.10?seq=1,

¹⁸ Recognize Palestinian Statehood: https://www.dw.com/en/which-countries-recognize-palestinian-statehood/a-69168152£Í£

Pictures:

Criticism of Map Accuracy: https://aijac.org.au/fresh-air/disappearing-palestine-the-maps-that-lie/, 1972-Masked Man: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-57924111, Palastine as a State Map: https://www.dw.com/en/which-countries-recognize-palestinian-statehood/a-69168152