Arab-Israeli Conflict
A Never-Ending War:
Understanding the Arab-Israeli Conflict and How it Impacts American Foreign Policy in the Middle East The current conflict between the Arab and Israeli people is one that dates back to the late 19th century and is one of the most complex and ongoing controversies in the Middle East today. The goal of this paper is to not only offer an introspective look into the history of this bloody feud and how it has transpired into the seemingly implacable problem it is today but to also highlight why it is critical to our government’s foreign policy. Also, to determine the circumstances of the US committing military force to this area.
Israel first became an independent state on 14 May 1948. While this landmark was the catalyst for the 1948 War of Independence, contention existed between the Arabs and Israelis long before this day. In 1917 the Balfour Declaration was issued by the British Mandate. This proclamation stated that the British Empire believed the Jewish people were entitled to a national home in Palestine although any civil rights of existing non-Jewish settlements would not be violated. This is believed to be the start of the Arab-Israeli conflict:
Arab nationalists and some historians now regard the Balfour Declaration as the root-cause of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and it is certainly true that without it there could not have been Zionist settlement in Palestine on a large scale. (Barker 9)
Tensions grew as more Jewish immigrants relocated to Palestine. The Arabs became increasingly uneasy of their new neighbors and violence soon erupted between the two communities. The situation steadily became worse and soon escalated out of British control. Unable to deal with this growing dilemma and their current involvement in World War Two, they relinquished authority of the issue to the United Nations. On 29 November 1947 the issue was put to vote with the outcome resulting in the Jewish people owning 55% of Palestine and the Arabs owning 45%.
Understanding the Arab-Israeli Conflict and How it Impacts American Foreign Policy in the Middle East The current conflict between the Arab and Israeli people is one that dates back to the late 19th century and is one of the most complex and ongoing controversies in the Middle East today. The goal of this paper is to not only offer an introspective look into the history of this bloody feud and how it has transpired into the seemingly implacable problem it is today but to also highlight why it is critical to our government’s foreign policy. Also, to determine the circumstances of the US committing military force to this area.
Israel first became an independent state on 14 May 1948. While this landmark was the catalyst for the 1948 War of Independence, contention existed between the Arabs and Israelis long before this day. In 1917 the Balfour Declaration was issued by the British Mandate. This proclamation stated that the British Empire believed the Jewish people were entitled to a national home in Palestine although any civil rights of existing non-Jewish settlements would not be violated. This is believed to be the start of the Arab-Israeli conflict:
Arab nationalists and some historians now regard the Balfour Declaration as the root-cause of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and it is certainly true that without it there could not have been Zionist settlement in Palestine on a large scale. (Barker 9)
Tensions grew as more Jewish immigrants relocated to Palestine. The Arabs became increasingly uneasy of their new neighbors and violence soon erupted between the two communities. The situation steadily became worse and soon escalated out of British control. Unable to deal with this growing dilemma and their current involvement in World War Two, they relinquished authority of the issue to the United Nations. On 29 November 1947 the issue was put to vote with the outcome resulting in the Jewish people owning 55% of Palestine and the Arabs owning 45%.