Israeli–Palestinian relations

Israeli–Palestinian relations
Name	Israeli–Palestinian relations
Established	20th century

Contents

Israeli–Palestinian relations describe the political, diplomatic, security, territorial, humanitarian, and cultural interactions between State of Israel, the Palestine Liberation Organization, and Palestinian entities including the Palestinian National Authority and Hamas (organization), shaped by conflicts like the 1948 Arab–Israeli War and the 1967 Six-Day War while involving international actors such as the United Nations and the United States.

Historical background

The roots trace to late Ottoman and British Mandate events including the Balfour Declaration, the Arab Revolt (1936–1939), and competing nationalist movements represented by figures like David Ben-Gurion and Haj Amin al-Husseini, which culminated in the UN Partition Plan for Palestine and the 1948 Arab–Israeli War; subsequent displacement produced the Palestinian refugee problem tied to locations such as Ramallah, Hebron, and Jaffa. Post‑1948 dynamics involved armistice agreements such as the 1949 Armistice Agreements, border incidents involving Ida Massad-era communities and the role of organizations including Irgun and Lehi (militant group), while the 1967 Six-Day War led to Israeli control of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem, affecting settlements and religious sites like the Temple Mount and Al-Aqsa Mosque and provoking international responses from the UN Security Council, European Union, and regional actors such as Egypt and Jordan.

Negotiation efforts have ranged from multilateral forums like the Madrid Conference of 1991 and the Quartet on the Middle East to bilateral accords including the Oslo Accords between the Palestine Liberation Organization and the State of Israel and the Camp David Summit (2000) with leaders such as Yitzhak Rabin, Yasser Arafat, Bill Clinton, and Ehud Barak, while subsequent initiatives involved mediators like Tony Blair and institutions like the European Council, producing documents such as the Oslo II Accord and proposals addressing final status issues including Jerusalem, right of return, and security arrangements. Internal political shifts—illustrated by elections of Benjamin Netanyahu, the rise of Hamas (organization) in the 2006 Palestinian legislative election, and rivalries within Fatah—have influenced ceasefire negotiations, prisoner exchanges like the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange, and sporadic talks mediated by the United States Department of State and figures such as John Kerry and Mike Pompeo.

Security concerns have centered on confrontations involving the Israel Defense Forces, Palestinian armed groups including Hamas (organization), Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, asymmetric tactics such as Qassam rockets and tunnel warfare, intelligence operations by services like Shin Bet and Mossad, and counterterrorism campaigns exemplified by operations in Operation Protective Edge and Operation Cast Lead; border security and checkpoints near crossings like Kerem Shalom Crossing and Erez Crossing affect movement, while international law disputes reference the Geneva Conventions and rulings by the International Court of Justice and UN bodies such as the UN Human Rights Council.

Territorial disputes involve settlement activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, planning authorities such as the Israeli Civil Administration, legal debates invoking the Fourth Geneva Convention, and municipal expansion in localities like Ma'ale Adumim and Efrat (Israeli settlement), challenging proposed borders in plans like the Clinton Parameters and the Arab Peace Initiative; land tenure issues intersect with Palestinian claims in cities like Nablus, Gaza City, and Bethlehem, while infrastructure projects including the Separation barrier (West Bank) and water management implicate bodies such as the Palestinian Water Authority and Israeli ministries.

Humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank reflect checkpoints, blockades, and closures affecting aid delivered by agencies like the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and International Committee of the Red Cross, while employment, trade, and fiscal transfers involve the Palestine Monetary Authority, the World Bank, and bilateral economic arrangements with the State of Israel, impacting infrastructure in municipalities such as Gaza City and services in refugee camps like Jabalya camp and Balata refugee camp.

External actors including the United States, European Union, Russia, United Nations, and regional states such as Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar have mediated talks, provided aid, and pursued recognition paths exemplified by votes in the UN General Assembly and bilateral recognition by countries like Sweden; multilateral processes include the Madrid Conference of 1991, the Quartet on the Middle East, and proposals linked to instruments such as UN resolutions including United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 and United Nations Security Council Resolution 338.

Societal attitudes and cultural exchange span civil society organizations like B'Tselem, Breaking the Silence, and Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, academia at institutions such as Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Birzeit University, and Al-Quds University, media outlets including Haaretz and Ma'an News Agency, and grassroots initiatives linking communities in Jerusalem neighborhoods, reflecting divergent narratives about events from the Second Intifada to contemporary incidents and shaping public opinion polled by institutes like the Pew Research Center and Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research.

Category:Middle East politics