"Jerusalem at the Crossroads: Understanding the Israel-Palestine Conflict"

On October 7, 2023,

thousands of rockets were launched from the besieged Gaza Strip towards Israel's capital, Tel Aviv. This attack was carried out by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Israel did not anticipate such a surprise attack from Hamas, nor did Israel's allies or the rest of the world expect the attack to be so devastating. Hamas claims they launched over 5,000 rockets at Israel. Israel's Iron Dome defense system, which is a source of great pride for the country, became largely ineffective in stopping so many rockets. Thus began the fifth Gaza-Israel war, or more accurately, another significant chapter in the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. But this is not the first time; similar wars occurred in 2008-09, 2012, 2014, and 2021, with numerous deaths of children, women, the elderly, and men. Naturally, the question arises as to why this region of the Middle East, the Palestinian territories, is so conflict-prone. Why is there more conflict here than in other places?

The reason is Jerusalem. This place is of immense importance to followers of the Abrahamic religions (Islam, Judaism, and Christianity). Many prophets and messengers have come here. According to Jewish belief, the Solomon's Temple was here, and it is home to Al-Aqsa Mosque, the first qibla for Muslims. Additionally, the Church of Jerusalem, known as the mother of all churches, is located here.

Three religions, one belief, one place. The root of the conflict lies here. Muslims believe that the last Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) came to Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Christians believe that Jesus, the son of Mary, came here and that he will return. At the same time, Jews believe that this place was gifted to them by the Creator and that they alone have the right to reside here. As author Simon Sebag puts it, "Jerusalem is the house of one God, the capital of two nations, the temple of three religions, and the only city that exists twice—once in heaven and once on earth.”

But Jerusalem was not always the same. This city has repeatedly faced wars and conflicts. It endured the siege of Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar, and in 70 AD, the devastation brought by Roman Commander Titus. After that, it was ruled by the Byzantines from 324 AD to 634 AD, followed by the Rashidun Caliphate, the Umayyad Caliphate, and later the Abbasid and Fatimid Caliphates. Then the Crusaders took control of the area. After the First Crusade, the Crusaders captured Jerusalem in 1099 and established the Kingdom of Jerusalem, one of the Crusader states. This rule lasted for nearly a century. In 1187, Saladin defeated the Crusaders at the Battle of Hattin and recaptured Jerusalem along with most of Palestine. Following this, Palestine came under the Ayyubid Sultanate. After several years, the Mamluks conquered Palestine in 1260 and governed from there until 1516 when Ottoman Sultan Selim I defeated the Mamluks and took control of Palestine. It remained under Ottoman rule until World War I in 1917.

During this time, Theodor Herzl, an Austro-Hungarian writer and journalist, first conceived the idea of a country for the Jews. He began writing about it, but a country needs land. Where would that land be? Their eyes turned to Jerusalem in Palestine, as according to their Hebrew Bible, the Creator had given them this land from which they were expelled. Herz

He gradually convinced the Jews to return to Jerusalem. It is known that he approached the then Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II with the proposal of Palestine and even suggested that the Jews would pay off all the debts of the Ottomans. However, Abdul Hamid firmly rejected the proposal. He stated that the Jews could live there, but the land would not be sold to them.

The Ottoman Empire was defeated by the British in 1917. Following this defeat, the province was divided between the British and the French. For the Jewish people, who had been migrating to Palestine since the Ottoman era, this place became a haven. Meanwhile, World War II began, and Palestine gained even more significance for the Jews due to the severe persecution they faced at that time.

After World War II, when the global economy was in turmoil, Jews began to immigrate en masse to British-controlled Palestine. This led to increasing conflicts between the Arabs and the Jews. The influx of Jews made the Arab Muslims feel like a minority in their own land. Consequently, conflicts erupted between the two communities, and the British eventually handed over the administration of the area to the UN.

The UN took control of the region in 1947-48 and proposed a partition plan. Their system was considered the most logical at the time, although it appears ridiculous in hindsight. They allocated 70-80% of the land to the Jews and 20% to the Arab Muslims, with Jerusalem designated as a common capital for both states. This led to the birth of Israel.

Can you imagine becoming a foreigner in your own homeland? You would say never, and similarly, the Palestinians also declared they would never accept this. This resulted in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, which Israel won. Following this war, a significant historical event occurred: 700,000 Palestinians were displaced from their homes, an event known as "Nakba." Although the Arabs lost the war, Jordan occupied part of Palestine, known today as the West Bank, and Egypt took control of what is now Gaza.

In 1967, when the Arab League launched a second attack on Israel, Israel, with its full intelligence and strategic planning, along with support from its allies, emerged victorious in the war. During this time, they captured Egypt's Sinai Peninsula and parts of Jordan. Later, under a peace agreement, they returned these territories with the condition that these countries would not attack Israel in the future. The Zionism dreamt by Theodor Herzl continued to advance in the Middle East at its own pace.

After the war, the Zionists equally attacked Palestine. Gaza and the entire West Bank fell into their hands. The two nations plunged into conflict. During this period, under the mediation of the United States, the Palestinian government and the Israeli government reached a peace agreement in 1987, known as the Oslo Accords. This agreement stipulated that neither country could use weapons against the other. Needless to say, Israel has not adhered to this agreement and has continued to act as it wishes. Consequently, from the anger and frustration of the Palestinian people, resistance groups like Hamas emerged.

Now, let's consider the present situation. Do you think there is any solution to this problem?

If you believe that "for the sake of humanity" and by forgetting ethnic hatred, the two nations can live together, I would say you are living in a fool's paradise. Do you think everything is that simple? Can Palestine forget the brutal oppression by the Israeli military? Can any Palestinian mother forget the killing of her child at the hands of Israel? Can any father do this? Can any wife easily forgive the murderer of her husband? Can any husband forgive the killer of his beloved wife? Can all Palestinians forgive all Israelis? A few days ago, Israel launched eight rockets at a camp in Rafah. Surely, you have heard and seen the viral photo named "All Eyes On Rafah," showing the picture of that child whose head was blown off and his father crying out with his lifeless body. Tell me, can that father forgive Israel? Can you forgive those who played with the lives of thousands of innocent people? Over 35,000 innocent Palestinians have died, including more than 7,000 children, over 4,900 women, and more than 1,200 senior citizens. Can everyone forgive?

Israel will determine the fate of Palestine based on who emerges victorious in the end. Because in a war, one side wins, and the other side faces defeat. To defeat Israel, the entire Arab world must unite, along with the Muslim world. But unfortunately, all countries lightly protest and then remain silent. The result? Israel continues its barbarity against Palestine even more. Consequently, Palestine is completely alone in this fight. Entirely alone.

However, in the current context, Israel might be somewhat cornered because, after the attack on October 7, the whole world has sided with Hamas, and this has not changed so far. Many countries are severing diplomatic relations with Israel. In France, Nazi signs are being placed on Jewish homes. University students across America, Israel's biggest ally, are supporting Palestine. Many more examples could be given. On the other hand, many have also supported Israel. This is a very positive aspect.

In the end, perhaps time will tell who will be victorious and who will face defeat.