Book SummaryThe Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, by Dov Waxman

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Historical Origins and Development of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

The 19th Century Origins of the Strife

Jewish Migration to Ottoman Palestine and Resulting Arab Tensions

In the last decades of the 1800s, the origins of what would evolve into the modern-day Israeli-Palestinian conflict began. Waxman traces the origins back to a wave of anti-Jewish violence, known as pogroms, in Russia in the early 1880s. These pogroms, spurred by the assassination of Tsar Alexander II, led to a desperate migration of Russian Jews. While most sought refuge in the United States and parts of Europe, a small minority—deeply influenced by a burgeoning Zionist movement—decided to relocate to Ottoman Palestine.

This influx of European Jews, motivated by a desire for a nation of their own, created anxieties among the existing Arabs in Palestine. The newcomers, though relatively limited in numbers at first, challenged the region's population composition and fueled concerns about their long-term intentions. As Jewish immigration continued, and as Zionist organizations began purchasing land and establishing agricultural settlements, tensions between the two communities began to rise. By the early 1900s, the seeds of conflict had been sown, as the arrival of Jewish immigrants and their Zionist aspirations generated growing Arab resistance and sporadic violent clashes.

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The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Summary Israel-Arab Political and Armed Conflicts

Arab-Israeli Wars 1948-1973

1967 & 1973 Wars Altered Region, Boosted Israeli Control, Prepped Future Conflicts

Waxman highlights the significance of the 1967 and 1973 wars between Arabs and Israelis in further influencing the conflict's trajectory. The 1967 war, known as the Six-Day War, resulted in a decisive Israeli victory and its expansion into territories previously held by Egypt, Jordan, and Syria, including the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza, and Golan Heights. Though initially intended to be temporary, Israel's occupation of these areas became central to the conflict, particularly the question of what to do about the West Bank. The conflict profoundly impacted Palestinian nationalism, fueling desires for self-determination and sparking the emergence of militant groups devoted to armed struggle.

The 1973 Yom Kippur War, though resulting in Israel's military victory, shocked Israeli society and exposed its vulnerabilities. It also highlighted the limitations and price of Israel occupying Arab lands. Waxman emphasizes that the struggle deeply impacted Israeli society, creating an openness to peacemaking and a recognition of the need for a political solution....

The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Summary Unsuccessful Negotiations for Peace

The Camp David Agreements and Peace Negotiations

1978 Camp David Accords: Israel-Egypt Breakthrough For Peace Initiatives

The Camp David Accords, signed in 1978, were a historic milestone in the Arab-Israeli conflict, marking a shift from warfare to peacemaking. Waxman credits U.S. President Jimmy Carter for his courageous diplomacy in personally mediating the thirteen-day summit at Camp David, bringing together Israel’s Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egypt’s Anwar Sadat. The agreements resulted in the first deal with an Arab nation—Egypt. Israel agreed to leave the Sinai Peninsula, fulfilling Sadat's primary objective, while gaining a peace treaty and diplomatic recognition from the most powerful state in the Arab world.

Despite the significance of the Accords, Waxman notes that they failed to secure a complete peace agreement. The Palestinian question, a source of contention throughout the negotiations, was only partially addressed with an agreement for limited self-governance in Gaza and the West Bank. This plan for autonomy, however, quickly stalled amidst conflicting interpretations from both sides regarding its meaning. The other Arab states did not follow...

The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Summary Core Issues and Competing Narratives Preventing Resolution

Jerusalem's Status

The Question of Jerusalem: A Conflict for Each Party

Waxman identifies the status of Jerusalem as the toughest and most contentious topic in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Because of its historical and religious significance to Christians, Jews, and Muslims, the city is a powerful emblem in the fight for national identity and acknowledgment. Israel has claimed Jerusalem as its unified capital since 1967, after conquering the eastern part of Jerusalem from Jordan. The international community, however, does not recognize its annexation of East Jerusalem, a territory Palestinians consider occupied and claim as the capital of their future state.

Waxman outlines both Israel's and Palestine's positions on Jerusalem and suggests a potential path to resolution, albeit a challenging one. Israelis are generally staunchly opposed to dividing the city, and particularly resistant to ceding control over the ancient city and its sacred places. In contrast, Palestinians view East Jerusalem, where Palestinians are the majority, as an integral part of any future Palestinian state. A potential compromise, which has been explored in past negotiations, involves a...

The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Summary Occupation's Impact & Hamas' Rise

The Effects of Israel's Occupation on Palestinians

The author points out that Israel's more than half-century control of the West Bank profoundly restricts Palestinian freedoms. Military checkpoints, permit requirements, and the imposition of Israeli military law impose significant limitations on Palestinians' ability to move freely, conduct business, build homes, gather for political activities, and even cultivate their land. This systematic control, though often defended by Israeli officials as necessary for security, has been condemned by human rights groups as discriminatory and abusive.

Waxman argues that the impact of the occupation on Palestinians extends beyond tangible restrictions to a more intangible sense of frustration, humiliation, and powerlessness—fueling resentment towards Israel and fostering a climate of anger and despair that increases support for violence. By restricting Palestinian freedoms, undermining their economic opportunities, and limiting their ability to govern themselves, the occupation inadvertently enabled the emergence and growth of Hamas.

Practical Tips

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The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Summary Conflict Resolution and the Potential for Peacebuilding

Potential Solutions: Separate States or Confederation

Challenges in Achieving an Equitable and Enduring Peace

Waxman emphasizes that achieving a fair and enduring resolution between Palestinians and Israelis will require overcoming a multitude of political, ideological, psychological, and logistical challenges. Past peace efforts have repeatedly failed due to a combination of hardening positions by both parties, a lack of political will from leaders on both sides, enduring mistrust between the two societies, and the persistent violence of extremists. The conventional two-state solution, though technically still feasible, is now widely viewed as politically impossible because of the continued expansion of Israeli settlements on the West Bank, the intransigence of both sides on final status issues such as Jerusalem, and the lack of any prospect for a resumption of peace talks.

A single-state proposal, though attracting increasing interest in recent years, is even less likely as it conflicts with the nationalist aspirations of both Palestinians and Israelis. Moreover, Waxman cautions that trying to force them into a single nation without addressing the hostility and...