Israeli–Palestinian conflict

Israel and the Palestinians have been in a long struggle over land and the right to live peacefully. This struggle began in the late 1800s when many Jewish people wanted to create a home in a place called Palestine. Over time, tensions grew between Jewish and Arab communities living there.

In 1947, the United Nations suggested splitting the land into two areas, one for Jews and one for Arabs. However, this led to more fighting. In 1948, the State of Israel was created, and many Palestinian families had to leave their homes.

Since then, Israel has controlled areas called the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Many people have worked to find peace. One idea is for two separate countries to live side by side. But disagreements and wars have made this very hard. Recent years have had continued fighting, which has been hard for families living there.

History

Main article: History of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict

The 1917 Balfour Declaration from UK Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour to Walter Rothschild expressing the support of the British government for "the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people."

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.

Further information: Military operations of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict began in the late 1800s and early 1900s with the rise of Zionism. Zionism was an idea that wanted to create a Jewish state in the region of Palestine. During this time, tensions grew between Jewish people moving to the area and the Arab people who already lived there.

In the early 1900s, World War I happened, and after that, Britain took control of Palestine. Britain supported the idea of a Jewish homeland there, which caused more tensions. In the following years, more Jewish people moved to Palestine, and this led to arguments between Jewish and Arab communities.

In 1947, the United Nations suggested dividing Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states, but not everyone agreed to this plan. This led to more fighting. In 1948, Israel declared itself a country, which led to a war with several Arab nations. Many people had to leave their homes during these conflicts.

Over the years, there have been many wars and peace efforts between Israel and the Palestinians, but the conflict continues today with disputes over land and the rights of people living in the area.

Attempts to reach a peaceful settlement

The Palestinian group wanted to join peace talks, but only if they promised not to use force and recognized Israel's right to exist. This meant they had to give up some land and focus on smaller areas controlled by Israel since 1967. By the late 1970s, many Palestinian leaders and Arab countries supported sharing the land into two states, one for Israel and one for Palestine.

In 1981, a plan from Saudi Arabia suggested this two-state idea, but Israel's leaders did not want a Palestinian state. Israel tried to weaken the Palestinian group by invading a nearby area.

The peace process

Main article: Israeli–Palestinian peace process

The "peace process" is about taking small steps to solve the conflict. It started with talks between Israel and nearby countries, but now focuses more on talking between Israel and the Palestinians. Big problems like borders and land are left for later talks, which have not happened yet.

The Oslo Accords in 1993 and 1995 tried to make small steps toward peace. But Israel took more land during this time.

Creation of the Palestinian Authority and security cooperation

Core to the Oslo Accords was the creation of the Palestinian Authority and the security cooperation it would enter into with the Israeli military authorities.

Oslo Accords (1993, 1995)

Main article: Oslo Accords

In 1993, leaders from Israel and the Palestinian group tried to make peace. One big step was when the Palestinian leader recognized Israel's right to exist. But Israel did not agree to let a Palestinian state exist. The Oslo agreements did not follow the world's usual way to solve the problem, and they let Israel control much of the land.

The process stopped after the death of an Israeli leader in 1995 and when talks failed in 2000 and 2001. During this time, Israel took more land.

Camp David Summit (2000)

Main article: 2000 Camp David Summit

In 2000, a meeting was held to try to make peace. The Israeli leader offered a small amount of land for a Palestinian state, but the Palestinian leader said it was not enough. After the meeting, some people said the Palestinian leader did not want peace.

Developments following Camp David

Main article: The Clinton Parameters

After the failed meeting, both sides kept talking. The United States made a plan in 2000 to create a Palestinian state in most of the land, with some land swapped. Both sides liked the plan, and it was used in more talks the next year.

Taba Summit (2001)

Main article: Taba Summit

In 2001, the two sides talked again and made some progress. But talks stopped because of elections in Israel.

Road map for peace (2002–2003)

Main article: Road map for peace

In 2002, a group of countries made a plan to help peace talks. The plan did not solve big problems like Jerusalem, but it had steps to stop violence. But these steps were not done.

The Annapolis Conference was a Middle East peace conference held on 27 November 2007, at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, United States. The conference aimed to revive the Israeli–Palestinian peace process and implement the "Roadmap for peace". After the conference, the negotiations continued. But no agreement was reached.

Arab Peace Initiative (2002, 2007, 2017)

Main article: Arab Peace Initiative

The Arab Peace Initiative (Arabic: مبادرة السلام العربية Mubādirat as-Salām al-ʿArabīyyah), also known as the Saudi Initiative, was first proposed by Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia in 2002. The initiative is a proposed solution to the Arab–Israeli conflict. It offered full normalization of relations with Israel, in exchange for Israel withdrawing from occupied territories and recognizing "an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital."

The Palestinian Authority led by Yasser Arafat embraced the initiative. His successor Mahmoud Abbas also supported the plan.

The Israeli government under Ariel Sharon rejected the initiative. Later leaders gave cautious support but ultimately rejected it.

Current status

Apartheid

Main article: Israeli apartheid

In 2021, a report said that the way Israel treats people in some places seemed very unfair. Some people agreed, but others did not. In 2018, a law was passed that some said made one group seem more important. In 2024, a court looked at these actions and found some problems.

Occupied Palestinian territory

Since 1967, Israel has controlled some lands where many Palestinians live. In 2024, a court said that this control and building in these areas might not follow the rules. Some Palestinians want these lands back, while Israel says it keeps some areas for safety.

Israeli settlements

Main article: Israeli settlement

Many people think these buildings where Israelis live in some areas may not follow the rules. Building these areas can take land away from Palestinians and make it hard for them to move. There are many of these buildings, and they are often protected by the Israeli military.

Israeli military police

Main article: Military Police Corps (Israel)

Some reports said that the actions of Israeli forces in some areas were too rough and hurt many people.

Separation of the Gaza Strip

Since 2006, Israel has had strict rules about moving things in and out of a certain area. This makes it hard for people to travel between areas and has changed how that area is run.

Blockade of the Gaza Strip

The rules about moving things in and out of this area have been very strict for many years. This has made it hard for businesses to work and for people to get what they need.

United Nations and recognition of Palestinian statehood

Main articles: International recognition of the State of Palestine and Palestine and the United Nations

Many countries support the idea of a Palestinian state, but the UN has not yet allowed it to join as a full member. In 2012, the UN recognized Palestine in a certain way.

Incitements to violence

Both sides have been asked to stop teaching children to dislike each other. Some school books have been found to tell only one side of the story, which can make children grow up with strong feelings against the other group.

Issues in dispute

The main problems in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict include the status of Jerusalem, the right of Palestinian refugees to return home, and security concerns. There are also disputes about Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the borders between the two areas.

In 1967, Israel took control of East Jerusalem. This has caused tensions, especially around holy sites important to Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.

Many Palestinians became refugees after conflicts in 1948 and 1967, losing their homes. They and their descendants seek the right to return to their original lands. Israel has concerns about this for its identity as a Jewish state.

Security has been a concern for Israel. Israel has built barriers and taken other measures to protect itself. These actions have limited Palestinian movement and access to resources. This has affected the economy for many Palestinians.

Fatalities

Many people have been hurt or lost their lives in the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. Over many years, thousands of people from both sides have been killed. Big fights have happened many times, and each time more people are hurt or die.

Some groups say it is hard to know the exact numbers because of different ways of counting.

Public opinion

In a Pew Research Center poll in June 2025, many Israelis felt less sure about living peacefully with Palestinians. Support for living together peacefully dropped from 50% in 2013 to just 21% in 2025.

Polls among Palestinians in 2021 showed that support for having two separate countries—one for Israelis and one for Palestinians—also went down. Before a big problem in April 2021, 39% supported this idea, but after the problem in October, only 29% did. Support fell on both sides, from 53% of Israelis and 51% of Palestinians in 2016 to 34% and 33% in 2022. Some groups still liked the idea of two countries more than others.

Around the world, opinions vary. In 2016, most Americans felt more supportive of Israelis than Palestinians. But in 2022, many Americans viewed both peoples positively, but were less positive about their governments. Feelings about solving the conflict were mixed, with some supporting two countries, others one country, and many unsure. In Western Europe and the United States in July 2023, most people supported the idea of two countries, though many thought a peace agreement was unlikely. By late July 2025, support in America for Israel's actions in Gaza had dropped sharply. International surveys in spring 2025 showed that most countries had more negative than positive views of Israel, with only a few exceptions.