The Middle East crisis

Introduction

The Palestinian and Muslim perspectives on the Israeli occupation of Palestine are absent and overshadowed in the global discussions. This article brings these viewpoints to the forefront exploring the deep-rooted and ongoing struggle for rights and recognition faced by Palestinians. We delve into the historical perspective and external pressures by colonial powers and the wider impact on international relations, aiming to provide a clear understanding of the conflict and the urgent need for a resolution that honors Palestinian voices.

Historical Context

With the fall of the Ottoman empire after World War !, the League of Nations granted Britain control over Palestine. The significant Jewish immigration to Palestine began in early 1900’s.

Before the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 and the subsequent Nakba, the situation for the Palestinians under British mandate became characterized by serious tension and conflict. The Jewish population in Palestine increased due to immigration facilitated by the British policies and Zionist efforts. The British policy also enabled significant land purchases by Jewish organizations that pooled their resources from wealthy community members for the benefit of the broader Jewish community from Arab landowners who were often under economic duress. It is important to note that in this environment of change facilitated by the new policy, Britain chose not to counteract economic strife among the Palestinians.

The Balfour Declaration in 1917 promised support for the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine, thereby encouraging Jewish immigration and settlement. While it also stipulated that the rights of the existing non-Jewish people be preserved. But this declaration was interpreted by Zionist movements as a green light to increase Jewish presence through land purchases.

The British Mandate between 1920-1948 sanctioned by the League of Nations included the responsibility to implement the Balfour Declaration further legitimizing Jewish settlements. The British provided the legal and administrative framework that facilitated the transfer of land from the Arabs to the Jews. The British also introduced modern land registration systems formalizing land ownership, a process that was manipulated to the advantage of more organized and wealthy Jewish buyers. Many Arab landowners, often absentee landlords living in urban centers sold land to Jewish agencies. All these moves were favoring the infrastructure of the Jewish people under British control. Jewish land acquisitions lead to the displacement of Palestinians, as well as a loss of livelihood and social disruption. This disparity led to issues that are still unresolved to this day and are integral to the peace process. Till 1939 Jewish land acquisition continued and after that the British tried to limit Jewish immigration due to unrest by the Palestinians but by then significant land had already changed hands. The economic depression of the 1930s severely affected the Arab population in many different ways. Also the British indirectly supported Jewish establishments thereby igniting Jewish and Arab tensions and unrest. So in 1929 the Palestine Riots took place with significant casualties on both sides. The Arab Revolt took place between 1936-1939.This was a nationalist uprising by the Palestinian Arabs against British rule and Jewish immigration. The British responded with severe military measures further disillusioning the Palestinian population.

After WW II the holocaust survivors emigrated in large numbers encouraged by international pressure and a change in British policy. Many proposals were put in place but rejected by both the Arabs and Jews. In the meantime Britain was going through eceonomic turmoil and challenges by the international community thereby announcing their intention to terminate the Mandate and withdraw its forces leaving the newly declared state of Israel in conflict.

The Nakba took place in 1948 after the State of Israel was declared but rejected by the Arab leaders and the Arab league. There was mass expulsion of the Palestinians who were not allowed to return to their homes which had been taken over by the Jewish settlers. Removal of Palestinians from what became Israel altered the demographics of the land consolidating the Jewish majority and permanently changing the Palestinian social and cultural fabric. The Palestinians fled to neighboring countries like Lebanon, Syria and Jordan as well as West Bank and Gaza Strip. They are still there to this date.

Current Situation

The political landscape within the Palestinian territories is complex with governance split between Fatah which controls the West Bank and Hamas which governs the Gaza strip. This division has led to a fragmented political environment which makes both internal and external dealings complicated. The Palestinian Authority led by Fatah is recognized internationally but has limited powers. Hamas, while considered a terrorist organization by Israel, the US and several other countries is providing a legitimate resistance movement by its supporters. It is providing a stance of resistance against Israeli occupation which resonates with parts of the Palestinian people despite economic blockades and military retaliation.

Free press is a myth when it comes to media coverage of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict with significant biases noted in many western media outlets. The Israeli perspective is overly represented and in many cases artificially manufactured while the Palestinian perspective is ignored and buried. Alternative facts are published without fact checking, perpetuating misinformation and Israeli propaganda is reported as the objective truth. This misrepresentation leads to a skewed understanding of the conflict among the international audience.

This underscores the need for critical media consumption as well as diverse sources of information. Social media has emerged as a vital platform for Palestinians and their supporters, allowing them to directly share their narratives. The raw, unadulterated content shared on platforms has played a critical role in shaping international lay person understanding of the conflict. The direct communication from Palestine has brought unprecedented global attention to their struggles. Despite obstacles, social media continues to empower the Palestinians, enabling them to mobilize, organize protests and directly engage with a global audience.

Dr Shaheen Mian MD