ISRAEL-
PALESTINE
CONFLICT
(1897 - 1955)
GROUP MEMBERS
Tamonan, Lagat, Ashley Montenegro,
Ma. Ladeevie R. Corinne Kyla
GROUP MEMBERS
Palces, Marcus Ilao, John Ryan Susano, Andrew
Ignatius William
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains one of the most complex and enduring
disputes in international law, shaped by overlapping historical claims, religious
significance, and competing national identities. While often framed within modern
political developments since the late 19th century, its roots extend much deeper.
The region historically known as Palestine—which encompasses present-day
Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza—has long been a crossroads of civilizations,
conquests, and sacred traditions. Its past includes ancient Jewish kingdoms,
periods of Islamic rule, Christian Crusader control, and centuries under the
Ottoman Empire.
INTRODUCTION
These layers of history have profoundly shaped the region’s demographic and
cultural landscape. The modern conflict has witnessed repeated violations of
international humanitarian law, particularly concerning civilian protection and the
legality of territorial occupation, underscoring its persistent complexity and global
legal significance.
HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND
HISTORICAL JEWISH
CONNECTION TO
THE LAND
Ancient kingdoms of Israel and Judah
Jerusalem as a spiritual and political
center
Roman destruction of the Second Temple
in 70 CE
Emergence of the Jewish diaspora
Persistent ties: migration and liturgy
ARAB-ISLAMIC CONQUEST AND
OTTOMAN RULE
Simultaneously, following the Arab-Islamic conquest in the 7th century, the land of
Palestine became an integral part of various Islamic empires and a predominantly
Arab and Muslim society emerged. The Ottomans, who controlled the region from
1516 to 1917, maintained relative religious pluralism, though the local population was
overwhelmingly Arab by culture and language (Masalha, 2022).
RISE OF ZIONISM
Emerged in late 19th century
Response to antisemitism in Europe
Theodor Herzl and the First Zionist
Congress (1897)
Earlier migrations: First Aliyah (1882–1903)
Settlement tensions with Arab
communities
ARAB NATIONAL AWAKENING
While Arab nationalism at this stage was not yet focused exclusively on Palestine,
growing awareness of Zionist immigration and land purchases engendered anxiety
among Arab inhabitants. They perceived these developments as harbingers of
foreign encroachment and demographic transformation that threatened their
social and cultural primacy.
THE ROLE OF
RELIGION
Shared sacred geography: Judaism,
Christianity, Islam
Jerusalem as a central spiritual symbol
Competing sacred narratives intensify the
conflict
Religious identity intertwined with
nationalism
CONVERGING FORCES
BEFORE 1897
The convergence of Jewish political Zionism and Arab cultural awakening, set
against the backdrop of Ottoman decline and European colonial ambitions,
created the conditions for a contest over land, identity, and sovereignty. While the
formal crystallization of the conflict is often marked by events at the end of the 19th
century, the seeds were sown much earlier through centuries of intertwined yet
increasingly divergent trajectories.
1897
1897
Key Year in Israel-Palestine Conflict
First Zionist Congress in Basel, led by Theodor Herzl,
launched political Zionism.
Adopted the Basel Program: goal to establish a Jewish
homeland in Palestine (Laqueur & Rubin, 2008).
Zionism arose in response to European anti-Semitism,
especially in Russia and Eastern Europe (Cleveland &
Bunton, 2016).
Formed the World Zionist Organization to promote
immigration, fundraising, and global support.
1917
1917
1917 marked a significant turning point in the
Israel-Palestine conflict, thanks to the Balfour
Declaration, which supported establishing a
national home for the Jewish people in
Palestine. The declaration, issued during World
War I, aimed to gain support from the U.S. and
Russia, and laid the foundation for the British
Mandate in Palestine.
1917
However, it contradicted earlier British
promises, leading to Arab distrust and
resentment. The declaration fueled the Zionist
movement and increased Jewish immigration,
but also alarmed the Arab majority, who feared
their political and national rights. The British
Mandate period, which included policies
favoring Jewish settlers, intensified tensions,
leading to the Arab Revolt of 1936-1939.
1920-1947
THE BRITISH
MANDATE BEGINS
(1920–1929)
1917: Balfour Declaration – Britain supports
a "national home for the Jewish people" in
Palestine, with protections for non-Jewish
communities (Khalidi, 2006).
1920: Britain formally assumes control under
the League of Nations Mandate.
Rising Jewish immigration and land
purchases fueled by European Zionism.
Palestinian Arabs grow alarmed at political
marginalization and loss of land.
THE BRITISH
MANDATE BEGINS
(1920–1929)
Key Events:
1920–1921: Riots in Jerusalem and Jaffa –
early Arab resistance.
1929: Hebron Massacre – 67 Jews killed by
Arab mobs; rising mutual hostility (Segev,
2000).
ESCALATION AND
REBELLION (1930–
1939)
Key Context:
Jewish institutions like the Jewish Agency
and Haganah gain strength.
Arabs increasingly fear being displaced by
Zionist expansion.
Arab Revolt (1936–1939):
Demands end to Jewish immigration and
British rule.
Britain responds with harsh military
crackdown and arrests of Arab leaders
(Smith, 2010).
ESCALATION AND
REBELLION (1930–
1939)
British Policy Shift:
1937 Peel Commission proposes partition –
accepted by Jews, rejected by Arabs.
1939 White Paper limits Jewish
immigration to appease Arabs – angers
Zionists.
WORLD WAR II AND
JEWISH RESISTANCE
(1939–1947)
Historical Shift:
Holocaust intensifies global support for a
Jewish homeland (Shlaim, 2001).
Britain maintains immigration restrictions
even as Jews flee Nazi persecution.
Zionist Armed Resistance:
Groups like Irgun and Lehi target British
forces.
1946: King David Hotel bombing – 91 killed
(Morris, 2001).
Britain’s Withdrawal:
Exhausted by conflict, Britain hands
Palestine issue to the UN.
UN PARTITION AND THE
END OF THE MANDATE
(1947–1948)
UN Partition Plan (1947):
Proposes Jewish (55%) and Arab (45%)
states; Jerusalem as international zone.
Accepted by Jews, rejected by Arabs who
viewed it as unfair (Khalidi, 2006).
Outcomes:
1948: Israel declares independence → Arab-
Israeli War begins.
Over 700,000 Palestinians displaced during
the Nakba (Pappé, 2006).
The Mandate ends in war, division, and
unresolved claims to land and sovereignty.
1947
UN Partition Plan
After WWII, Britain could no longer manage the
conflict in Palestine between Jews seeking a
homeland and Arabs demanding
independence, so it referred the matter to the
UN in 1947. The UN Special Committee
proposed ending the British Mandate and
partitioning Palestine into separate Jewish and
Arab states, with Jerusalem under international
control.
UN Partition Plan
On November 29, 1947, the UN approved
the partition plan, granting 56% of the land
to Jews and 43% to Arabs, with Jerusalem
as an international zone. While the Jewish
Agency accepted the plan, Arab leaders
rejected it, arguing it was unfair and
violated Arab Palestinians’ right to self-
determination.
UN Partition Plan
The plan’s adoption triggered widespread
violence in Palestine as the UN lacked the
power to enforce it. As Britain prepared to
leave, Jewish and Arab militias fought to
control territories, initiating a civil war that
eventually escalated into the Arab-Israeli
conflict.
1948
Creation of Israel &
Arab-Israeli War
On May 14, 1948, Jewish leaders declared
the State of Israel, which was quickly
recognized by major powers. While Jews
saw it as the realization of national
sovereignty, Palestinians and Arab states
regarded it as a catastrophe (Nakba),
leading to massive displacement.
Creation of Israel &
Arab-Israeli War
The day after Israel’s declaration,
neighboring Arab countries invaded,
launching the first Arab-Israeli War to
prevent Israel's establishment. Despite
early Arab advances, Israel prevailed due
to superior organization and unity,
ultimately expanding its territory beyond
the UN plan’s boundaries.
Creation of Israel &
Arab-Israeli War
Armistice agreements in 1949 ended the war but
not the conflict; Israel now controlled 78% of
former Mandatory Palestine. Egypt took over Gaza,
and Jordan annexed the West Bank, while around
700,000 Palestinians became refugees—an event
remembered as al-Nakba, central to the ongoing
conflict.
1949-1955
1949
1952
1953
Israel's actions are justified by addressing
Palestinian fedayeen raids, a pattern of attacks
by Palestinian militants that resulted in the
killing of an Israeli woman and her children.
1954
Pinhas Lavon
Accused of authorizing the operation
1955
1956
POST-1955
1956
1967
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict highlights the deep tension between history,
national identity, and international law. It is rooted in overlapping religious and
cultural claims, made more complex by modern ideologies like Zionism and
Arab nationalism. Although international law aims to protect civilians, guide
wartime conduct, and resolve territorial disputes, its impact is limited by weak
enforcement and the influence of powerful countries. Global institutions like the
UN and International Criminal Court often struggle to hold violators
accountable, showing a gap between legal principles and political reality.
CONCLUSION
While international law clearly outlines violations and offers ways to seek justice,
it is not enough without the political will to act. The Israeli occupation, the Gaza
blockade, and the actions of militant groups all break international
humanitarian law, yet accountability remains out of reach. Historical grievances
still drive the conflict, but real progress needs more than legal reports—it
requires strong global action to enforce the law and support fair solutions. A just
and lasting peace is only possible through both legal fairness and political
courage.
THANK YOU
For Your Attention
