Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Understanding the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict & The Olive Tree Initiative (Dr. Daniel Wehrenfennig) Quick overview of Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: ● Israel and Palestinian Territories ○ Area: 8,522 sq. miles (including PA territory) ○ Population: ca. 9 million Israeli Citizens (74% Jewish, 21% Arab) plus 5 million Palestinian (non-citizen) in Gaza and the West Bank Major event/dates of the conflict and peace process: ○ 1967 → Creation of the PLO ○ 1973 → Israel Yom Kippur war ○ 1979 → Camp David Peace Accord between Israel and Egypt ○ 1981 → First Lebanon War ○ 1988 → Start of the first Intifada (“shaking off”) ○ 1993 → Oslo Peace Accords ○ 2000 → Start of the second Intifada ○ 2006 → Hamas wins elections ○ 2006 → Second short-term Lebanon war ○ 2007 → Hamas gains control of the Gaza Strip ○ 2009 (ongoing) → Gaza conflict ○ 2020 → Trump administration’s peace plan Important Recent Developments in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: ● The Arab Spring and its impact on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict ○ Changing alliances are creating more challenges possible opportunities ● The Trump Administration Peace Plan (Deal of the Century) ○ Shifting US politics and approach vis-a-vis the region ● Aging leadership and Internal Politics ○ Political leadership on both sides is the weakest in years The Arab Spring and its impact on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: ● Differences and clashing between the two Shia and Sunni populations ● Arab Spring has shifted many of the issues on the ground for the I-P conflict ○ The notion that the Arab world always speaks in one voice was tarnished ■ OPEC and the Arab League ○ With the Arab world splitting, there is no longer collective leadership and collaboration in the region ○ Arab world has in the past supported the Palestinians politically and economically ■ Funding for Hamas (support from Iran) ● Recently, the financial support has come from Qatar ● Turkey is attempting to be involved in the region ● Funds coming majorly from Sunni populations throughout the Middle East ● Arab Spring has showed the world that the international community is not willing to risk their own political power/ resources to mitigate peace for Middle Eastern issues ○ “The world is tired of these conflicts, and there are bigger issues” ■ Palestinians on the ground feel this, as if their voice and issues are continuing to fall in international importance The Trump Administration Peace Plan (also referred to as the Deal of the Century) ● The Oslo Accords “Road Map” stated that any agreement to be internationally approved need to first be agreed upon between Israelis and Palestianians ○ Attempted to limit the powers of international communities on the issues (i.e. Russia, US, EU) ■ Trump’s plan doesn’t follow this ● Trump’s plan proposes a solution without the mutual agreement of I-P ○ Led by Jared Kushner, David Freeman (US ambassador to Israel) ■ Not in mutual agreement with the Palestinains, US worked primarily with the Israelis ● This was a move from the US being a mediator in the I-P conflict to presenting a solution for the region ○ The US (Trump) moved the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem ■ Says that Jereseulm will be the capital of the future Israeli state, not allowing for Palestianis to have this claim ● Map for Trump’s proposed peace plan: ○ “Deviating from previous proposals” ■ Oslo Peace Process: Return to pre-1967 lines (two state solution) ○ Trump’s proposal ignores these lines: ■ West-Bank to Gaza Strip and a tunnel for the Palestinians ■ Removal of Palestinian territory land border along the Jordan River with Jordan (annexation) (caused the most rejection for the plan) ● Israel also rejected the plan for this reason ● This would remove a future Palestinian Terriotry’s acsess to any sea ports (important as a port, military, and agriculture) ● The majority of Trump’s peace plan was focused around economic peace ○ 50 billion support package for the future Palestinian State ■ Majority of low interest loans from primarily Sunni Arab states ○ Economically, some of the parts of Trump’s peace plan were popular ■ US: if you make peace with Israel we will provide these funds, it is a promise for the funding (not guaranteed by any means) Aging Leadership and Internal Politics ● Since Hamas took the Gaza Strip and the failure of reconciliation, Palestinians understand that between Hamas and Mohumad Abbas their decision might not hold ○ Abbas is in the 15th year of his 4-year term (no Palestinian election since 2005) ■ “Democracy deficit” ● Palestinaisn presidency ○ No clear plan for what Palestinian leadership looks like post Abbas ○ Gaza Strip: they are under the control of Hamas ○ Weak Palestinian leadership overall in the region ● Israeli’s third election this year for Benjamin Netenyahu (PM) ○ The government cannot be taken by Netenyahu which leads to a weak leadership ○ It is not likely that Netenyahu will form a government (which means another election) ■ “Political limbo” ■ When it comes to making peace, it is difficult without functioning governments, “who will negotiate with a nation whose leader will change in two weeks?” ● The following months with leadership changes in the region will be history-making for the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: ○ Increasing violence on the Gaza Strip with Israeli response could be expected ○ Coronavirus in Israel (Netanyahu's 14-day quarantine) ○ Past year saw the most tourists in Israeli and Palestinian territories ○ More visible indications of prosperity: buildings, shops, infrastructure ● Importance of Interaction and Education (OTI) Tensions on campuses around the I-P conflict in the University of California system and especially at UC Irvine between diaspora communities ● Lack of classes or education opportunities to study the issues ● Interest of student leaders and administration to engage the issues more educationally ○ Textbook’s issues v. experiencing the issues ● Creation of Olive Tree Initiative (OTI) in 2007 to bring UC students to the region to liste (listen), leadr (learn), vs. ‘sound-bites and stereotypes’