In order to get a better understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it is necessary to return a hundred years to the First World War. At that time, a Caliphate, the Ottoman Empire, controlled the area known as Palestine. The United Kingdom, attempting to acquire concessions for oil in the area, launched its Middle Eastern policy, signing separate and individual agreements with the Arabs, France, Russia, and the Jews.

First, the U.K. encouraged the Arabs under the rule of the Ottoman Empire to revolt assuring that it would recognize their independence if they helped the U.K. defeat the Ottoman Empire.

Then it signed a secret agreement with France and Russia stating that should they succeed in defeating the Ottoman Empire, they would then divide the Arab provinces into areas of future British and French control.

Furthermore, the U.K. asked an affluent Jewish family for support in raising funds for war when it promised its support of the establishment of a national home for the Jews in Palestine. (The Balfour Declaration)

The Middle East War Began Immediately After the Foundation of Israel

Partly due to the courageous fight fought by the Arabs, the Ottoman Empire surrendered in 1918, but the U.K. did not keep its commitment to the agreement, making Palestine its mandated territory.

When the Second World War broke out, the Jews that were being persecuted by the Nazis began to immigrate in droves to Palestine. When the Arabs got infuriated at this and rose up in rebellion, the U.K. referred this problem to the United Nations for a settlement and withdrew from Palestine.

In 1948, the Jews declared the foundation of the state of Israel. On the following day, the seven Arab nations declared a war against Israel. This was how the Arab-Israeli War of 1948 began. They repeated pattern of conflict and ceasefire that marks the Israeli-Palestine history was begun and continues over the many years that followed.

In 1993, the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Israeli government signed an accord that allows for the establishment of the Palestinian Authority and grants autonomy to it in some areas of the West Bank. (The Oslo Accord)

It seemed that peace finally came to the region, but Israel had no intention of abiding by the terms of the Agreement and continues to build settlements in the West Bank. The Palestinian Authority actually governs only 40 percent of the Palestinian autonomous region.