In one of the largest standing conflicts in the world, the Israeli-Palestinian dispute is what some view as something that could possibly be the key to ending various conflicts in the Middle East. Some believe that many of the terror groups have been formed due to the Arab resentment of the “West,” forming from the confliction.
The issue began with how Palestinians had left the country, moving to Europe until after World War II when they attempted to move back to where their roots began, a place in which the Israeli people have evolved since the absence of the Palestinians. The Palestinians left and headed to Europe. Therefore, the land was “up for grabs,” and the Israeli people took full advantage to settle. From 1965 to 2013, there have been over 21,000 casualties according to CNN.
The core issues that are awaiting resolution are borders, mutual recognition, water rights, and control over Jerusalem. Many attempts have been made to have a two-state solution, which creates an independent Palestinian state alongside a State of Israel.
“Israeli settlements are not an obstacle to peace … The West Bank is disputed territory. No Palestinian-Arab state ever existed in the region. Palestinian-Arab residents currently have claims to the West Bank, where they want to build a state. Israel also has legal, historic, and security claims to this land,” said Roz Rothstein, Executive Director of the nonprofit organization StandWithUs that the Israel Emergency Alliance is currently doing business with.
Both Israelis and Palestinians are currently occupying the West Bank, yet the Israeli people are there to stay permanently, shown through their military occupancy.
“Let me be clear: The position of the United States on settlements has not changed and will not change,” Hillary Clinton said in 2010 during her time as Secretary of State, according to the Saban Forum Speech, posted on their official website.
“Like every American administration for decades, we do not accept the legitimacy of continued settlement activity. We believe their continued expansion is corrosive not only to peace efforts and [the] two-state solution, but to Israel’s future itself.”
Israel has won the majority of the United States’ political view and citizen’s view as they argue that Israel has justified “taking military action against Hamas and the Palestinians in the area known as Gaza,” according to The Guardian. Only 25 percent of Americans that have voiced their opinion believe that Israel is unjustified.
According to a poll taken by CNN, only 13 percent of Americans sympathize with Palestinians. President Barack Obama continues to speak out and say that the bond between Israel and America is “unbreakable,” as the president supports the Israeli attempts to defend themselves.
“It is critical that the United States take an active role in helping to find a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by playing the role of the honest broker at the negotiating table – with the trust of both sides and ability to facilitate direct talks between the parties. The U.S. is the only country that can be successful in this role because of its longstanding and special relationship with the State of Israel,” said Howard Dean, who is the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
Some Americans say that the U.S. has not done enough to support Israel and their effort and the White House is seen as an “honest broker.” Yet, with Palestine refusing peace, it’ll be hard for any country to continue aid.
