The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a long-standing and intricate issue that has been ongoing for over seven decades. The conflict is rooted in the struggle for land and resources in the region after the British government directed the immigration of Jewish settlers to Palestine in the wake of the First World War and the United Nations partitioned the region into two separate nations, one under an Israeli state and another under a Palestinian state. Since then, the Israeli government has been involved in a number of related conflicts against Palestine and other Arab nations in which they have steadily acquired and occupied more territory. Despite a number of ill-fated attempts to broker peace agreements, the situation remains tense, and in recent years there have been escalations of violence that have once again put the conflict in the global spotlight.
One of the central issues in the conflict is the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. Since the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel has occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem, as well as Gaza. Gaza was later relinquished by Israel but remains under Israeli control. Inhabitants are still barred from movement under what has become known as the world’s “largest open-air prison.” The ongoing occupation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem has also resulted in significant restrictions on Palestinian freedom of movement, the confiscation of Palestinian land, and the construction of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory, which are considered illegal under international law.
In recent years, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has again been the topic of much discussion due to the violence that erupted in 2021 and again in 2022. In 2021, the violence began when Israeli police clashed with Palestinian protesters over Israeli restrictions on access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. The situation quickly escalated, with Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that controls Gaza, launching rockets into Israel, and Israel conducting airstrikes on Gaza. The 2021 flare-up resulted in the deaths of over 200 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and 12 Israelis. Again in 2022 and into 2023, violence erupted with the newly-elected Israeli government, considered to be the most far-right government in years, escalating tensions with raids on Palestinian territory and the construction of yet more settlements. The violence has once again highlighted the dire situation of the Palestinian people, who have been living under Israeli occupation for decades. Many, including various human rights organizations and the United Nations, argue that the situation amounts to apartheid, a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination that was implemented in South Africa in the mid-twentieth century.
There are a number of ways in which the Israeli occupation of Palestine constitutes apartheid. One of the most significant is the system of separate laws and policies that govern Israelis and Palestinians. Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza are subject to military law, which is administered by Israeli authorities, while Israelis living in settlements in the West Bank are subject to Israeli civil law. This means that Palestinians face harsher legal consequences for the same offenses as Israelis and have fewer rights and protections under the law.
Additionally, as previously touched upon, Palestinians face significant restrictions on their freedom of movement. Israel has erected a network of checkpoints and barriers throughout the West Bank and Gaza, making it difficult for Palestinians to travel to work, school, or medical appointments. Aside from the obvious human rights concerns, this system of movement restrictions also has a severe impact on the Palestinian economy, as it limits access to markets and makes it difficult for businesses to operate.
Another aspect of apartheid in Palestine is the construction of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory. Israeli settlements in the West Bank have expanded significantly over the years, with over 600,000 Israelis living in settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. In 2023, the Israeli government approved an additional 7,000 settlements in the occupied West Bank. As previously noted, these settlements are considered illegal under international law and have resulted in the displacement of many Palestinians from their homes and land. Along with this, the Israeli government has also implemented a policy of home demolition, which has resulted in the destruction of Palestinian homes and communities.
Finally, on the topic of apartheid, the Israeli government has implemented a system of institutionalized discrimination against Palestinian citizens residing in internationally-recognized Israel. Palestinian citizens of Israel face significant discrimination in access to education, employment, and housing. They also face restrictions on their ability to participate in political life and have been subject to discriminatory laws and policies, such as the Nation-State Law, which declares Israel to be the nation-state of the Jewish people and downgrades the status of Arabic as an official language.
The Israeli government denies that it is implementing an apartheid regime in Palestine and argues that its actions are necessary for security reasons. However, human rights organizations and the international community have condemned Israeli policies in Palestine and have called for an end to the occupation and the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. To move towards a just resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it is essential to recognize the suffering of the Palestinian people and address the underlying causes of the conflict. This includes ending the occupation, dismantling settlements in Palestinian territory, and ensuring equal rights and protections for all people.
Back on the topic of current rising violence, as previously discussed, the Israeli government frequently conducts raids against Gaza and the West Bank, resulting in the deaths of numerous Palestinians. In tandem with these raids, Israel also conducts regular bombings of Gaza, a small strip of land occupied by 2 million Palestinians, half of which are children. In turn, more and more Palestinian people are choosing to take up arms against Israel, which they view as a colonial settler state. Due to this, many observers see the potential for a Third Intifada, the First and Second Intifadas being the Palestinian wars of resistance to Israeli occupation in 1987-1993 and 2000-2005 respectively. Some even argue that a Third Intifada may have already begun, with Palestinian casualties to Israeli raids and airstrikes skyrocketing and a steady rise in Palestinian attacks on Israeli civilians as well as military personnel.
Regardless of what is to come, the Palestinian people have been the victim of violence and repression for nearly a century, and, without action, change will never come. With many Palestinians turning to violent means, it is hard to condemn them in the face of ongoing occupation and apartheid. A peaceful resolution is always preferred but, from the perspective of the Palestinians, what has peace achieved?
Edited by Anyssa Boyer
Alexander Morris-Schwarz is a third-year student at McGill University where he is majoring in Political Science with a minor in Communication Studies. Alexander is currently a staff writer for Catalyst and he is interested in international relations and imperialism.