The Hundred Years' War on Palestine

The Hundred Years' War on Palestine Plot Summary

Introduction

In the early hours of June 5, 1967, Israeli warplanes launched a surprise attack on Egyptian airfields, marking the beginning of the Six-Day War. This conflict would reshape the Middle East and dramatically alter the course of Palestinian history. The war's outcome entrenched Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and set the stage for decades of conflict to come. Through a century-long lens, this book examines the complex dynamics of the Palestinian struggle against colonial ambitions and military occupation. It reveals how great power politics, Zionist aspirations, and Palestinian resistance have intertwined to create one of the world's most intractable conflicts. This book offers readers a nuanced understanding of the Palestinian perspective, often overshadowed in Western narratives. It explores how successive declarations of war on Palestine - from the 1917 Balfour Declaration to the 2014 Gaza conflict - have shaped the region's turbulent history. By tracing these pivotal moments, the book provides crucial context for comprehending contemporary tensions and the ongoing quest for Palestinian self-determination. Whether you're a student of Middle Eastern affairs, a policymaker, or simply someone seeking to understand this enduring struggle, this account offers invaluable insights into the century-long war on Palestine.

Chapter 1: Imperial Beginnings: The Balfour Declaration and British Mandate (1917-1939)

The period from 1917 to 1939 marked the inception of what would become a century-long conflict in Palestine. It began with the Balfour Declaration of 1917, in which the British government expressed support for the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine, without consulting its Arab inhabitants. This declaration laid the groundwork for increased Jewish immigration and land purchases, fundamentally altering the demographic and economic landscape of Palestine. During this period, key figures emerged who would shape the trajectory of the conflict. On the Zionist side, leaders like Chaim Weizmann lobbied tirelessly for British support, while Palestinian leaders such as Hajj Amin al-Husseini sought to resist what they saw as a colonial takeover of their homeland. The British Mandate, established in 1920, attempted to balance these competing interests but ultimately favored Zionist aspirations. The 1920s and 1930s saw rising tensions between the Arab and Jewish communities in Palestine. Economic disparities grew as Jewish immigrants, backed by significant foreign capital, established modern agricultural settlements and industries. Meanwhile, the indigenous Palestinian population, largely rural and traditional, found itself increasingly marginalized. This economic transformation was accompanied by cultural and political changes that further alienated the two communities. The Arab Revolt of 1936-1939 was a watershed moment, marking the first sustained Palestinian uprising against British rule and Zionist colonization. The revolt was brutally suppressed by British forces, weakening Palestinian society and leadership on the eve of World War II. This period set the stage for the next phase of the conflict, as the British began to reconsider their commitments in Palestine and international attention turned to the plight of European Jews fleeing Nazi persecution. The events of 1917-1939 had far-reaching consequences. They established patterns of colonial settlement, resistance, and repression that would characterize the conflict for decades to come. The failure to resolve competing claims to the land during this period left a legacy of mistrust and missed opportunities that continues to haunt peace efforts to this day. As we move into the next phase of the conflict, we see how these early dynamics would play out on an even larger scale, with devastating consequences for the Palestinian people.

Chapter 2: The Nakba: Displacement and State Formation (1947-1949)

The period surrounding 1948 marked a catastrophic turning point for the Palestinian people, known as the Nakba or "catastrophe." This era saw the establishment of the State of Israel and the simultaneous displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homes and lands. The events of 1948 fundamentally reshaped the demographic and political landscape of Palestine, creating a refugee crisis that persists to this day. In the lead-up to 1948, tensions between Jewish and Arab communities in Palestine had reached a boiling point. The United Nations proposed a partition plan in 1947, which was accepted by Zionist leaders but rejected by Palestinian Arabs and neighboring Arab states. As British forces prepared to withdraw, both sides mobilized for conflict. Zionist military organizations, such as the Haganah and Irgun, implemented Plan Dalet, a strategy to secure territory for the future Jewish state. The ensuing war saw Zionist forces, better organized and equipped, gain the upper hand against Palestinian irregulars and later, poorly coordinated Arab state armies. Key battles, such as the capture of Haifa and Jaffa, led to mass exoduses of Palestinian civilians. Massacres, like the one at Deir Yassin, spread fear and panic, contributing to the flight of Palestinians from their homes. By the war's end, over 700,000 Palestinians had become refugees, scattered across neighboring Arab countries and within Palestine itself. The Nakba had profound and lasting consequences for Palestinian society. It resulted in the destruction of hundreds of Palestinian villages and the erasure of a way of life. The newly established State of Israel passed laws preventing Palestinian refugees from returning to their homes and confiscated vast tracts of Palestinian land. This created a situation of permanent exile for most Palestinian refugees and laid the foundation for ongoing conflict. The events of 1948 continue to shape the Israeli-Palestinian conflict today. The right of return for Palestinian refugees remains a core issue in peace negotiations. The trauma of displacement and the loss of homeland have become central to Palestinian national identity. As we move forward in our examination of the century-long war on Palestine, we see how the Nakba set the stage for future conflicts and resistance movements, as Palestinians struggled to reclaim their rights and identity in the face of ongoing dispossession.

Chapter 3: Occupation and Resistance: The Six-Day War and Its Aftermath

The Six-Day War of 1967 marked another seismic shift in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In a swift military campaign, Israel defeated the armies of Egypt, Syria, and Jordan, occupying the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Golan Heights. This dramatic expansion of Israeli control reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East and had profound implications for the Palestinian people. The war began on June 5, 1967, with a preemptive Israeli strike against Egyptian airfields. Within hours, Israel had effectively destroyed the air forces of Egypt, Syria, and Jordan. Over the next six days, Israeli ground forces rapidly advanced on multiple fronts, capturing vast territories. The speed and decisiveness of Israel's victory stunned the world and shattered the myth of Arab military superiority. For Palestinians, the war's outcome was catastrophic. The entire territory of historic Palestine now came under Israeli control. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip found themselves living under military occupation. In East Jerusalem, Israel quickly moved to annex the Old City and surrounding areas, altering the city's demographic balance through land confiscation and settlement construction. The 1967 war had far-reaching consequences that continue to shape the conflict today. It marked the beginning of Israel's settlement enterprise in the occupied territories, creating "facts on the ground" that have made a two-state solution increasingly difficult to achieve. The war also gave rise to UN Security Council Resolution 242, which called for Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories in exchange for peace - a formula that has formed the basis of subsequent peace negotiations. Perhaps most significantly, the 1967 war reinvigorated Palestinian nationalism and resistance. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), founded in 1964, gained prominence as the primary representative of Palestinian national aspirations. The concept of armed struggle against Israeli occupation took hold, leading to decades of conflict. As we move into the next phase of our examination, we see how the new realities created by the 1967 war would fuel further cycles of violence and failed peace initiatives, deepening the century-long war on Palestine.

Chapter 4: From Intifada to Oslo: False Promises of Peace (1987-1995)

The period from 1987 to 1995 witnessed dramatic shifts in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, from the grassroots uprising of the First Intifada to the hope and ultimate disappointment of the Oslo Accords. This era marked a significant change in Palestinian resistance strategies and international perceptions of the conflict. The First Intifada began in December 1987 as a spontaneous uprising in the occupied territories. Palestinians engaged in mass civil disobedience, including strikes, boycotts, and stone-throwing. The Israeli military's harsh response, including the policy of "breaking bones" ordered by Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin, drew international condemnation. The uprising brought global attention to the plight of Palestinians under occupation and shifted public opinion in their favor. The Intifada also led to changes within Palestinian society and politics. Local leadership in the occupied territories gained prominence, challenging the PLO's monopoly on Palestinian representation. The rise of Hamas as an Islamist alternative to the secular PLO further complicated the political landscape. These internal dynamics would have long-lasting effects on Palestinian unity and strategy. The end of the Cold War and the 1991 Gulf War created new geopolitical realities that paved the way for the Oslo peace process. Secret negotiations between Israeli and PLO representatives in Norway led to the signing of the Oslo Accords on the White House lawn in September 1993. The iconic handshake between Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat seemed to herald a new era of peace. The Oslo Accords established the Palestinian Authority (PA) as an interim self-governing body in parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It was meant to be a five-year transitional period leading to a final status agreement. However, the accords left crucial issues unresolved, including the status of Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees, and Israeli settlements. Initially hailed as a breakthrough, the Oslo process soon revealed its limitations. Israeli settlement expansion continued unabated, undermining Palestinian trust. The assassination of Rabin by a right-wing Israeli extremist in 1995 dealt a severe blow to the peace process. Palestinian frustration grew as living conditions in the occupied territories failed to improve significantly. The period from the Intifada to Oslo represented a moment of possibility in the long war on Palestine. It demonstrated the power of popular resistance to shift narratives and force political change. However, the ultimate failure of Oslo to deliver a just and lasting peace set the stage for renewed conflict and disillusionment. As we move into the next phase, we see how the unresolved issues and broken promises of this era would fuel further cycles of violence and resistance.

Chapter 5: Gaza Under Siege: Isolation and Resilience (2000-2014)

The period from 2000 to 2014 was marked by escalating violence, political fragmentation among Palestinians, and the increasing isolation of Gaza. This era saw the collapse of the Oslo peace process, the Second Intifada, and a series of devastating wars in Gaza that further entrenched the conflict. The Second Intifada erupted in September 2000 following the failure of Camp David negotiations and Ariel Sharon's provocative visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Unlike the largely unarmed First Intifada, this uprising was characterized by armed confrontations and suicide bombings. Israel responded with massive military force, including assassinations of Palestinian leaders and reoccupation of Palestinian cities. The violence resulted in thousands of deaths, mostly Palestinian, and severely damaged the Palestinian economy and infrastructure. In 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew its settlers and military from Gaza while maintaining control over its borders, airspace, and coastline. This "disengagement" did not end the occupation but rather transformed it. The following year, Hamas won Palestinian legislative elections, leading to a power struggle with Fatah. In 2007, Hamas took control of Gaza, resulting in a political split between the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip and the Fatah-dominated West Bank. The split in Palestinian governance had profound consequences. Israel, with international support, imposed a blockade on Gaza, severely restricting the movement of people and goods. This led to a humanitarian crisis and economic collapse in the coastal enclave. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank pursued a strategy of state-building and security cooperation with Israel, leading to accusations of collaboration from more militant factions. Between 2008 and 2014, Israel launched three major military operations against Gaza: "Cast Lead" (2008-2009), "Pillar of Defense" (2012), and "Protective Edge" (2014). These wars resulted in thousands of Palestinian casualties, widespread destruction of Gaza's infrastructure, and further isolation of its population. Israel justified these operations as responses to rocket fire from Gaza, but the disproportionate use of force drew international condemnation. The Gaza wars highlighted the asymmetry of the conflict and the vulnerability of Palestinian civilians. They also demonstrated the limits of military solutions, as each round of violence failed to bring long-term security or address the underlying causes of the conflict. The repeated cycles of destruction and reconstruction in Gaza created a sense of hopelessness and despair among its population.

Chapter 6: Colonial Reality in a Post-Colonial World: Ongoing Struggle

The century-long war on Palestine has created a stark colonial reality in an era that has largely moved beyond colonialism. This final chapter examines the persistent inequalities that characterize the Israeli-Palestinian relationship and the ongoing forms of Palestinian resistance in the face of these challenges. The Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, now over half a century old, has created a system of institutionalized inequality. In the West Bank, Palestinians live under military law while Israeli settlers enjoy the protections of Israeli civil law. In East Jerusalem, Palestinians face discriminatory policies in housing, education, and access to services. In Gaza, the ongoing blockade has created a humanitarian crisis and stifled economic development. Within Israel proper, Palestinian citizens face systemic discrimination in various aspects of life. This system of inequality is maintained through a complex network of checkpoints, permits, and restrictions on movement that fragment Palestinian society and economy. The continued expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank further entrenches this unequal reality, creating facts on the ground that make a viable Palestinian state increasingly difficult to achieve. In response to these conditions, Palestinians have developed diverse forms of resistance. Non-violent protest movements, such as the popular committees against the separation wall, have gained international attention. The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement has sought to pressure Israel through economic and cultural means. In Gaza, repeated cycles of armed conflict have failed to break the blockade but have kept the Palestinian cause in the international spotlight. Internationally, the Palestinian struggle has gained increasing recognition. The UN General Assembly's recognition of Palestine as a non-member observer state in 2012 was a diplomatic victory. However, the lack of progress towards a political solution has led to growing frustration and disillusionment among Palestinians. The persistence of colonial-like conditions in Palestine challenges the international order's commitment to self-determination and human rights. It raises questions about the efficacy of international law and institutions in resolving protracted conflicts. The situation also highlights the ongoing impact of historical injustices and the difficulties of achieving reconciliation in the absence of acknowledgment and redress. As we conclude this examination of the century-long war on Palestine, we are left with the realization that the conflict remains as intractable as ever. The colonial reality imposed on Palestinians stands in stark contrast to global post-colonial norms. Yet, Palestinian resilience and the growing international solidarity movement offer hope that change is possible. The challenge for the future lies in finding a way to transform this unequal reality into one of justice and mutual recognition.

Summary

The century-long war on Palestine has been characterized by a persistent pattern of colonial ambition, resistance, and inequality. From the Balfour Declaration to the Gaza wars, each phase of the conflict has seen the entrenchment of Israeli control over Palestinian land and lives, met with various forms of Palestinian resistance. The core dynamic has been the tension between Zionist aspirations for a Jewish state and Palestinian claims to self-determination in their homeland. This conflict has been shaped by great power politics, regional dynamics, and the evolving strategies of both Israeli and Palestinian actors. Looking to the future, the lessons of this long war suggest that military solutions and unilateral actions have failed to bring peace or security. A just resolution must address the fundamental inequalities at the heart of the conflict. This requires a paradigm shift away from the failed Oslo framework towards a rights-based approach that ensures equality and dignity for all. International pressure, coupled with grassroots activism and dialogue, may offer a path forward. Ultimately, ending the war on Palestine will require courage, empathy, and a willingness on all sides to confront historical injustices and imagine a shared future based on mutual recognition and respect.

About Author

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Rashid Khalidi

Rashid Ismail Khalidi (Arabic: رشيد إسماعيل خالدي; born 18 November 1948) is a Palestinian-American historian of the Middle East and the Edward Said Professor Emeritus of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University. He served as editor of the Journal of Palestine Studies from 2002 until 2020, when he became co-editor with Sherene Seikaly.He has authored a number of books, including The Hundred Years' War on Palestine and Palestinian Identity: The Construction of Modern National Consciousness; has served as president of the Middle East Studies Association; and has taught at the Lebanese University, the American University of Beirut, Georgetown University, and the University of Chicago. For his work on the Middle East, Professor Khalidi has received fellowships and grants from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the American Research Center in Egypt, and the Rockefeller Foundation, among others. In October 2010, Khalidi delivered the annual Edward Said memorial lecture at the Palestine Center in Washington. He is the Edward Said Professor Emeritus of Modern Arab Studies at Colombia University. On October 8, 2024, Khalidi retired from Columbia University citing the university's crackdown on pro-Palestinian student protests, which he had vocally supported, and the transformation of the university into a "hedge fund-cum-real estate operation, with a minor sideline in education" as reasons for his retirement.

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