Israel-Palestine Conflict Dynamics in West Asia

The violence between Israel and Palestine has been a continuum since the post-war world history. Current conflict dynamics showed the timing of the attack was symbolic in the sense of marking the fiftieth anniversary of the Arab-Israeli War in 1973. A sudden and surprise infliction of violence against Israel on October 7 was said to be its intelligence failure. Cairo Summit for Peace held in Egypt is a symbolic congregation of world leaders to deliberate and express opinions on this matter of peace or conflict.

On October 7 Hamas attacked Israel with a barrage of rockets claiming to number more than five thousand. They were on a killing spree of Israeli settlers in the frontiers of the Gaza Strip. Hamas has been ruling on behalf of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip since 2007. Israel and Palestine’s conflict has been enduring since the UN Partition Plan in 1947 and numerous Arab wars against the State of Israel have occured since its creation in 1948.

Jews found Israel in the aftermath of the Second World War. When the Nazi and Fascist regimes meted out brutal genocide called the Holocaust against Jews, the trauma triggered them to search for their homeland. Israel has been indomitable and unconquerable while living in a neighborhood wherein West Asian countries are its foes. 

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Winning a war in a territory is a remarkable feat and the military stint of Israel, that is unmatchable, is its reason for existence. After the Byzantine rule and the British colonial rule in Palestine land, Israel came into existence with international assurances to the Palestinians of the West Bank and Gaza Strip to realize a two-state solution. Since this resolution of the UN, the developing world and non-aligned countries followed this policy and principle to end the long-running conflict in West Asia.

As far as international relations analysts study, the violence between Israel and Palestine has been a continuum since the post-war world history. This hotspot of war always draws attention for one reason or another, be it in areas of interest in politics, democracy, terrorism, science and technological advancement, human capital and regional security. On one hand, America and Europe are the allies of Israel and they maintain tightrope diplomacy to offset Arab power and influence in the region in favor of Israel. America and Europe diplomatically try to reiterate the same principled position on a two-state solution to the conflict. But the reality today is becoming different. Israel is accused of occupying Palestinian lands and expanding settlers in Palestine’s homeland. Critics of Israel say it uses coercion and violence to capitulate the Palestinian people. While America mediates these two parties in locked-in conflict to forge peace and persuade them to coexist together, Israel reins in a free hand to pursue its objectives and mission to claim the Jewish heritage and nativity in current territorial claims. 

International power politics notwithstanding, Israel has the upper hand in security and politics to consolidate its identity in the region where the Muslim population predominates. Israel is wary of support to armed groups by Iran, Lebanon, Syria and Egypt in fomenting anti-Semitic rhetoric and activities. It abets enmity and bellicosity pulling great powers to this conflagration of violence to secure regional concerns and interests.

Current conflict dynamics showed the timing of the attack was symbolic in the sense of marking the fiftieth anniversary of the Arab-Israeli War in 1973. A sudden and surprise infliction of violence against Israel on October 7 was said to be its intelligence failure. Since then Israel’s armed retaliation killed double the number of Palestinians and wounded many in comparison to Israeli casualties. Still, the Israeli Army informs more than two hundred captives are held by Hamas. America has deployed the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford and USS Eisenhower with the mobilization of additional troops and marine forces in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. Israeli Forces have besieged the Gaza Strip with the consequences of a daunting humanitarian crisis. Palestinians are without water, food, fuel and electricity making life there filled with misery and untold suffering. The whole of West Asia was convulsed by the attention of this conflict. But the resolution of the problem remains the same. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken undertook a marathon diplomacy to defuse the tension and listened and spoke with heads of state and government of the region. Likewise, American President Biden also visited Israel to ensure Israel’s safety and security aside from peacemaking. America supports Israel wholeheartedly in its fight or war against elements terrorist in nature. America in tandem with Israel does not compromise in its primacy of security of Israel and Israelis. American diplomacy has put pressure on the countries in the region. However, the effect of persuasive power seems to be not as effective as it was before.

The world is in a reordered situation, and middle and regional powers are taking chances to pressure Israel and sympathize with the Palestinian cause. Cairo Summit for Peace held in Egypt is a symbolic congregation of world leaders to deliberate and express opinions on this matter of peace or conflict. Russia and China also expressed concern over the violence during the third Belt and Road Initiative Forum in Beijing. Both these two authoritarian big powers sent their special envoy to the region and proffered alternative solutions as a long-held policy of the Global South or the Third World. 

Also Read: A Reordered World: The Dance of Global Forces on the Stage of Human Forces

How can this conflict end? What measures can be undertaken to peaceful coexistence? What are the determinants of the peace process in West Asia particularly in Israel and Palestine? Any solution or quick fixes able to heal the wounds when events add fuel to the fire? When will they live in respect, esteem and peaceful proximity of interdependence? So many international relations experts dwell on this conflict that can erupt at any time. Will solutions that are told and retold not be listened to well? What type of statecraft do we need to resolve this interlaced conflict in a warring zone? There are pertinent questions to Israelis, Palestinians and powerful countries in the region and beyond serious to address them.

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