The Conflict between Israel and Palestine - Research Paper Example

Israeli-Palestine Conflict The conflict between Israeli and Palestine has been active for many years. It has been characterized by short bursts of peace agreements and assaults. The one question that seem to linger in the mind of the people is, “What is causing the conflict between these two nations?” It is imperative to understand that the discovery of oil and gas in the occupied territories has a significant impact on the conflict between Israel and Palestine. The paper discusses the current energy problems and solutions that might exist within Israel/Palestine. History has seen the Israeli and Palestine conflict unfold. It is a story that has been told for over fifty years. A myriad of reasons have been cited to explain the factors influencing the conflict. One of the reasons cited by many people is religion. The story was made possible by beliefs in the three major religions, which are Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. The other issues surrounding the conflict are refugees, politics, and the relative population growth in both countries. Rowley and Taylor (79) put it clearly that the root of the problem between Israel and Palestine is the Occupied Territories. Israeli has been at war with Arabs for decades because of Gaza. After the Holocaust, which saw Hitler kill six million Jews, an increasing number of Jews wanted to their country. The United Nations managed an agreement that involved giving the Jews a huge part of Palestine, which the Jews view as their traditional home. Regardless, the Arabs did not take the formation of Israeli as unfair because many Palestinians were forced to abandon their homes. The Arabs did not accept Israel as a country. The disagreement between the Israel and the Arabs caused the 1948 war that ended with Egypt controlling Gaza and the West Bank by Jordan (Rowley and Taylor 80). Both of these areas was inhabited by very many Palestinians. Israel was able to occupy all the areas of Palestine in 1967. They stayed in the area for many years. They tried to exchange the land they had taken over with the Arabs recognizing Israel as a nation. Israel left the areas in 2005, and it did not take long before Hamas started controlling the area (Farsakh 120). The Hamas is dedicated to the cause of eliminating Israel and making Palestinians return to their old home. Currently, Israel has the power to control who goes in and gets out of Gaza. Sometimes Israel launches offensives against Gaza to retaliate after a missile has been launched in Israel. The natural energy deposits found off the coast of Gaza is all the significant source of the conflict that has pitted Israel against its Arab neighbors. In most cases, the role of natural gas deposits in the Israeli-Palestine conflict has been overlooked. It is debatable that in all most all current wars and uprisings in the Middle East there is competition for natural energy deposits. The Israeli-Palestine cases is not a special war in the Middle East. The natural gas deposits in Gaza and other parts of the Occupied Territories also influence it. The Israeli-Palestine conflict that is fuelled by fossil deposits can be traced back to early 1990s (Gelvin 50). Palestinian and Israeli leaders are believed to have begun fighting over suspected natural gas deposits in the Mediterranean Sea, which is found off the Gaza coast. Over time, the conflict has cost many lives and seen the involvement of some of the world’s most powerful navies. The Oslo Accords signed between the Palestinian Authority, and Israel was rumored to the solution. The accord brought to an end the Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank Coastline. It provided an opportunity for the creation of a sovereign state. At that time, Israel did not object to the proposal of Gaza coastline falling under the control of the newly formed Palestine Authority. Palestine hired British Gas to explore if there any gas in the area. Palestine was set to sign an agreement that involved Egypt and British Gas to create a deal that would see the exploration of the gas deposits 2000. In the year, Israeli Ehud Barak seems to have changed Israeli stand on letting the Palestine Authority control the Gaza coast. The Israeli Navy had the power to control the waters of Gaza, which is why Israel decided to nix the deal and push Egypt aside. A crucial look at things reveals that Israel was being faced with an imminent energy shortage because of a growing economy, very little energy deposits and unfriendly Arab neighbors (Finkelstein 100). The Israeli government went as far as insisting on taking control of the financial benefits that were meant for Palestine based on the notion of preventing terror. The arguments made by Israeli were supported by the fact that the Hamas had just won an election in Gaza. The demands made by Israeli put an end to the Oslo Accord and the conflict was on again. The role of natural energy deposits in the conflict has been confirmed by the tension brought by the discovery of fossil deposits in Eastern Mediterranean, which is off the coast of Israel (Blanche 23). The possibility of Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon strip having deposits created a situation that could explode into war at any time. The deposits belonging to Syria are also estimated to be big enough to transform its economy. The growth of Syria will only breed more trouble because it can get resources to breed enough military power to stand against Israel, its long-term enemy. Additional problems come in because it is possible that Lebanon can lay claim to the Leviathan deposits. Lebanon and Israel have been enemies since the 1940s and sharing claim to the natural gas deposit that could transform their economies could mean potential war. The tension surrounding the Leviathan gas fields seeks to height the Palestine/Israeli conflict (Blanche 22). Israel was concerned about exploring the fields because of the Hezbollah has the missiles that could hit onshore gas centers. Currently, it is tremendously difficult to find a working solution that could be embraced by the Arab states and Israeli given the history of enmity between Israel and the Arabs. The idea of two state solution has already failed in the region. The economic developments and actions by Palestine and Israel has depleted the hopes of a two-state solution. A solution that eliminates the enmity between Palestine and Israel will quell the enmity between Israel and its neighbors. It will bring peace between Israel and all its neighbors. The Palestinian refugees and Hamas are bent on making sure the refugees return home to Israel. Currently, Israel is reluctant to give the returning refugees citizenship because they will become the majority and turn Israel into an Arab state. The politics of Israel has made it difficult find a working solution. Israel has made it clear that it cannot trust Palestine Authority to the point of releasing control over Gaza waters. A one state solution presents an interesting economic case that could create a lasting solution. The one state solution presents an opportunity to provide justice and economic development to all the people. The notion of economic justice might seem far-fetched, but it makes sense when viewed as the equal distribution of produces and services to both Israel and Palestine. First, Israel has turned Gaza into a blocked by closing off its borders and controlling whoever goes in and out. A one-state solution would mean that the mechanisms will not have to change. Israel can still have the authority to control security and ensure no terror activities against Western powers are organized within Gaza. Currently, it is almost impossible to give a definite distinction that exists between the Palestinian and Israeli Economics. The economic activities taking part in the Israeli are the same ones taking part in Palestine. The porous economic boundaries between the two states have led to conclusions that the two countries have one economy. The movement of people and goods in two nations is under the control of Israel. Thus, it is tremendously hard to separate the two economies. Proponents of a two-state solution claim the independence of the Palestinian state might end the porosity of the two economies. However, it would mean abandoning the existing activities for alternatives, which might take a very long time. A one state solution would be much faster and less costly to both nations. The international community is in a position to put pressure on Israeli and Palestine to consider a one-state solution. In conclusion, the Israeli and Palestine began with the Jews wanting to form their country after the Holocaust. Religion played a significant role in the allocation of land to the Jews after World War II. The situation that started with a claim to ancestral land has escalated to decades of conflict that is fueled by natural gas deposits in the region. The situation threatens to escalate to another major war if nothing is done. The formation of a single state has been offered as a solution that could work for both Israeli and Palestinians. Works Cited Blanche, Ed. "Israeli Gas Finds Could Prove to be a Game Changer." Middle East (2010): 22-25. Print. Farsakh, Leila. "Economic Prospects for a One-State Solution in Palestine-Israel." Holy Land Studies: A Multidisciplinary Journal (2013): 119-140. Print. Finkelstein, Norman G. Image and The Reality of the Israeli- Palestine Conflict. London: Verso, 2003. Print. Gelvin, James L. The Israel - Palestine Conflict: One Hundred Years of War. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2014. Print. Rowley, Charles K. and Jennis Taylor. "The Israel and Palestine Land Settlement Problem, 1948-2005: An Analytical History." Public Choice (2006): 77-90. Print. Walt, Stephen M., Philip Weiss and Siegman Henry. "The Future of Israel and Palestine: Expanding the Debate." Middle East Policy (2013): 1-24. Print. Read More