The Israeli and Palestinian Conflict
The Israeli and Palestinian conflict is the ongoing struggle between Israelis and Palestinians that had begun in the mid 20th century. The term is also used in reference to the earlier conflict in Mandatory Palestine, between the Zionist Yishuv and the Arab population under British rule. Along the Eastern shore is the Mediterranean Sea which is at the center of a conflict between Arabs and Jews. Both of the groups claim territorial rights over the small piece of land. The land is approximately 10,000 square miles, about the size of the state of Maryland. The origins of the Arab-Israeli conflict are extremely complex and difficult to understand given the differing claims and counter-claims made by Arabs and Israelis.
The conflict is based on religion and politics as well as the strong human desire to have a secure homeland. Since both Arabs and Israelis feel they deserve a nation on the same land, each group has had hatred for one another ever since. The conflict between Palestinian Arabs and Jews is a modern phenomenon, which began around the turn of the 20th century. Although these two groups have different religions (Palestinians include Muslims, Christians and Druze), religious differences are not the cause of the conflict. It is essentially a struggle over land. Until 1948, the area that both groups claimed was known internationally as Palestine. But following the war of 1948-49, this land was divided into three parts: the state of Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Jewish claims to this land are based on the biblical promise to Abraham and his descendants, on the fact that this was the historical site of the Jewish kingdom of Israel (which was destroyed by the Roman Empire), and on Jews' need for a haven from European anti-Semitism. Palestinian Arabs' claims to the land are based on continuous residence in the country for hundreds of years and the fact that they represented the demographic majority. Arabs do not believe that they should forfeit
The conflict is based on religion and politics as well as the strong human desire to have a secure homeland. Since both Arabs and Israelis feel they deserve a nation on the same land, each group has had hatred for one another ever since. The conflict between Palestinian Arabs and Jews is a modern phenomenon, which began around the turn of the 20th century. Although these two groups have different religions (Palestinians include Muslims, Christians and Druze), religious differences are not the cause of the conflict. It is essentially a struggle over land. Until 1948, the area that both groups claimed was known internationally as Palestine. But following the war of 1948-49, this land was divided into three parts: the state of Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Jewish claims to this land are based on the biblical promise to Abraham and his descendants, on the fact that this was the historical site of the Jewish kingdom of Israel (which was destroyed by the Roman Empire), and on Jews' need for a haven from European anti-Semitism. Palestinian Arabs' claims to the land are based on continuous residence in the country for hundreds of years and the fact that they represented the demographic majority. Arabs do not believe that they should forfeit