The Holy War: The History of Israel and Palestine

A light overview of the history of the Southern Levant and a reflection on the impact of religion on a region desperately in need of peace.

Given the lack of reliable facts coming from the Southern Levant, it’s probably slightly daft to comment on the Israel-Palestine conflict in its current rendition. After all, I’m not a front-line reporter, nor do I have any insider information. However, I can, perhaps, look to the history of the region to offer some insight into the ongoing conflict that the mainstream media tends not to give.

As a caveat, I’d like to say that I have no horse in this race; as I see it, the problem in the region is rooted too heavily in the religiosity of its population. From the perspective of an atheist, I can only say that people fighting over celestially-given land—that is, land ownership by divine right if ever such a claim could truly be trusted, let alone accepted and abided—is nonsensical. In reality, it’s absolutely mad, and it most certainly isn’t worth the spilling of blood. That said, the Abrahamic religions—Judaism, Christianity, and then Islam—have contested the so-called ‘Holy Land’ for over a millennium, and the conflict has been continuous in various forms.

Understanding this age-old conflict requires far more paper space than one article permits. That said, there is a whole arras of history that weaves together the above-mentioned Abrahamic religions and their claims to the Holy Land, as well as crucial historical factors that provide plenty of reasoning for each side's involvement and perspective today. Excitingly—but also disappointingly—the narrative of the region is deeply embedded in religious texts and cultural identities, each with its own version of truth and justice, which makes it somewhat more difficult to analyse and decipher than the more cut-and-dry conflicts of the day.

Religious Ruminations

To begin, I should first acknowledge—as should we all, to be clear—that the land known as 'Israel and Palestine' has been a crucible of human civilisation for thousands of years. That's irrefutable. The region, which has seen the rise and fall of empires and countless battles over its governance, is the birthplace of the three Abrahamic religions and is, consequently, rich in historical significance and heralded as the cradle of spiritual belief for approximately 3.8 billion people today.

The Jewish claim to this land dates back to biblical times, anchored in the belief that God promised this land to the children of Abraham—which, prior to the creation of Christianity and Islam, was solely the Jewish people. Christianity, born out of Judaism, also holds this land sacred, particularly the city of Jerusalem, which played host to Jesus of Nazareth's crucifixion and resurrection. Islam, too, regards Jerusalem as a holy site, being that it was the last city that the Prophet Muhammad visited before ascending to the heavens to chat with God post-Mecca to Jerusalem red-eye flight aboard Buraq in 621 CE; it also hosts Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam.

A list of historical conflicts in the region

The following list highlights some of the particularly significant conflicts in the history of the Southern Levant.

1. Babylonian Exile (597-538 BCE): The Jewish population was exiled to Babylon following the Babylonian conquest of the Kingdom of Judah.

2. Jewish-Roman Wars (66-136 CE):

   • The Great Revolt (66-73 CE): Jewish rebellion against Roman rule in Judea.

   • Kitos War (115-117 CE): A series of revolts by Jewish diaspora in the Eastern Mediterranean against the Roman Empire.

   • Bar Kokhba Revolt (132-136 CE): A major Jewish uprising against Roman occupation.

3. Islamic Conquests (7th Century CE): Rapid expansion of the Islamic Caliphate, including the conquest of Jerusalem in 637 CE.

4. The Crusades (1095-1291 CE): A series of religious wars initiated by the Latin Church to reclaim the Holy Land from Muslim rule.

5. Mamluk-Sultanate Period (1250-1517 CE): Control of the Holy Land by the Mamluk Sultanate, marked by various conflicts with the Mongols and Crusader States.

6. Ottoman Period (1517-1917 CE): Ottoman rule over the region, including various internal and external conflicts.

7. Arab Revolt (1916-1918): Arab uprising against the Ottoman Empire during World War I.

8. 1948 Arab-Israeli War: Following the declaration of the State of Israel, a war with neighbouring Arab states led to significant territorial changes and contributed to the Palestinian refugee crisis.

9. Six-Day War (1967): A war between Israel and neighbouring Egypt, Jordan, and Syria, resulting in additional territorial changes, including Israeli control over Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza.

10. Yom Kippur War (1973): A war initiated by Egypt and Syria against Israel on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur.

11. Lebanon Wars (1978, 1982): Israeli invasions of Lebanon, primarily targeting Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) forces.

12. Intifadas (1987-1993; 2000-2005): Palestinian uprisings against Israeli occupation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

13. Gaza Conflicts (2006; 2008-2009; 2014; 2023.): Various conflicts between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

These conflicts highlight a few things. Primarily, the complex interplay of religion, politics, and cultural identity that has defined the region for millennia, but also two antonymous points: The long-standing nature of these conflicts suggests that solutions to deep-rooted historical and cultural disputes are incredibly challenging, yet there have been periods of prolonged peace, cooperation, and coexistence in the region, which indicates that through sustained effort and dialogue, peaceful resolutions are possible—IF the leaders and propaganda allow for it, that is.

The Contemporary Conundrum

While its roots are historical, the modern conflict is spurred on by the rise of national movements among both Jews and Arabs throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Zionist movement, emerging in Europe, sought to establish a national homeland for the Jewish people in what was then Ottoman and later British-controlled Palestine. This aspiration was intensified by the horrors of the Holocaust in World War II, leading to increased Jewish immigration to the region. At the time, the Arab population of Palestine, witnessing the growing influx of Jews, feared the loss of their own national identity and territorial rights.

The United Nations' partition plan of 1947, intended to create separate Jewish and Arab states, further complicated matters. Unsurprising, really. After all, apartheid enforced by foreign powers has never ended particularly well, has it? Naturally, the Jewish community, recently emancipated from the abhorrent actions of Nazi Germany, accepted the plan; the Arab states, however, did not. This led to the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, which resulted in the establishment of the state of Israel and the displacement of around 750,000 Palestinian Arabs (85% of the population in the regions that Israel captured)—a historical point that remains a core element of Palestinian grievance and narrative.

The Six-Day War

The story of Israel and Palestine, post-1948, is a chronicle of several conflicts, each escalating the tensions and deepening the divide. The Six-Day War in 1967, which saw a jittery Israel launch a preemptive strike against its neighbours, Egypt, Jordan, and Syria, marked a pretty notable shift in the geopolitical landscape. The result? A dramatic territorial expansion for Israel, including the acquisition of East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights. This war reshaped the map and intensified the Palestinian plight and the question of statehood.

The Yom Kippur War

Just six years later, in 1973, the Yom Kippur War erupted when Egypt and Syria, seeking to reclaim lost territories, coordinated a surprise attack on Israel during the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. The initial success of the Arab forces soon turned as Israel regained ground, leading to a stalemate that, somewhat pleasantly, opened the door to future peace negotiations. However, the war's legacy was one of continued mistrust and a reinforcement of the region's polarised narratives. (Again, unsurprising given the local powers' inability to keep their weapons sheathed.)

Lebanon

The conflicts extended into Lebanon in 1978 and again in 1982, as Israel sought to destabilise the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO), which had been launching attacks from the southern regions of the country. These invasions plunged Lebanon into chaos and brought to the forefront the complexity of Middle Eastern politics, where various players and interests intersected with devastating consequences. And, to be honest, this conflict, which ultimately continued until 2006, has much to do with Lebanon's inability to rebuild.

The Era of Intifada

Within the territories, the Palestinian response to prolonged occupation and settlement expansion manifested in the form of Intifada in 1987 and again in 2000. These uprisings, marked by civil unrest, violence, and economic hardship, further embittered relations between Israelis and Palestinians. The first Intifada was a largely grassroots movement marked by widespread protests and civil disobedience. The second Intifada was more excessive and escalated into a more violent struggle, with suicide bombings and military responses causing significant casualties on both sides.

The situation in Gaza has been particularly volatile in recent decades—and now, perhaps, more than ever—with several conflicts erupting between Israel and Hamas, the militant group that took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007. These conflicts, occurring in 2006, 2008-2009, 2014, and as recently as 2023, have been defined by two things: substantial loss of life and destruction, particularly within Gaza.

Some Thoughts

Ordinary people—Israeli and Palestinian alike—suffer the consequences of a conflict seemingly without end, and that is a great shame. But the greatest shame, in my opinion, is seen in the happiness of both parties when a member of the ‘other side’ is killed. There is nothing more vile than the celebration of murder, yet it is something that the religious of the region once known as ‘the Holy Land’ seem to have in common.

Looking back through history, this mirrors a tragic and recurring theme in human history: the entanglement of religious fervour with territorial disputes, often leading to devastating—but widely applauded—consequences. Across various cultures and eras, the history books teach us that intense religious devotion combined with nationalistic and geographical aspirations tends to result in intractable conflicts. The Crusades of the High Middle Ages, the European wars of religion in the 16th and 17th centuries, and even more recent sectarian violence in places like Northern Ireland and the Balkans all echo a similar problem to the Israel-Palestine conflict: that is to say that religion, usually touted as a source of moral guidance and peace, becomes a tool for division and justification for violence.

I think I’d be remiss to mention that while faith can offer personal solace and a sense of community, it can also be manipulated to fuel hatred and division. The current conflict (and many of the ongoing wars around the world) is evidence of that. As is history.

The tragedy is further amplified when we consider the human cost of this debacle. The conflict perpetuates a culture of animosity and retribution. It's disheartening to witness how, in the ardour of conflict, the fundamental teachings of these religions—compassion, love for one's neighbour, and the sanctity of life—become overshadowed by hatred and vengeance, even on my LinkedIn news feed of all places. The moments of shared grief and tragedy often seem to be the only times when the common humanity of both Israelis and Palestinians is acknowledged.

This brings us to a crucial point: the resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict, and indeed any conflict rooted in religious and nationalistic zeal, cannot be found in further ingraining these ideologies. Instead, the solution lies in transcending them. It's about recognising the shared humanity beyond religious and national identities, embracing empathy, and prioritising the preservation of life over doctrinal supremacy. The history of human conflict teaches us that while religion can enrich lives, it is not a panacea for deep-rooted political and territorial disputes. Rather, the path to peace often requires a secular, humanistic approach that values human life and dignity above all else.

In the context of the Southern Levant itself, this means moving beyond the 'us versus them' narrative fuelled by Islam and Judaism. It's about creating a dialogue that acknowledges the grievances and aspirations of both sides, focusing on building a future based on mutual respect, security, and coexistence. The path is undoubtedly challenging, fraught with historical baggage and deep-seated mistrust. But it's a necessary journey for all nations in the region, or else they will continue to perfectly portray the negative elements of their religiosity—and continue to be a stain on humanity.

Oh, and a lot of bombs (around 25,000 tonnes, in fact) have been dropped in the region recently. Don’t you think that’s quite an ungodly stockpile for some of the most pious among us?

Please feel free to get involved with the discussion and let me know your thoughts on the conflict in the Middle East!