Contents
Synopsis:
The Israel-Palestine conflict has been going on for almost a century now. The recent escalation took place on 11th May and took the lives of many people on both sides. Experts believe that both countries should adopt a peaceful solution by drawing inspiration from the Indian Model of coexistence.
Background:
- The recent 11th May 2021 encounter between Hamas and Israel started a proxy war between the two sides. They fought for 11 days until a ceasefire was declared on 21st May 2021.
- The encounter is neither the first nor likely to be the last of its kind. The conflict has been going on and off for almost a century now.
- Both the parties claim their control on religious grounds. The holy land of Jerusalem is home to the three religions of Abrahamic monotheism, viz., Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Brief History of Israel-Palestine Issue:
| Year | Event |
| 1917 | British expressed official support for a Jewish “national home” in Palestine under the Balfour Declaration. |
| 1947 | The UN gave a partition plan for independent Jewish and Arab states in Palestine. This was accepted by Jews but not by Arabs. |
| 1948 | The Jewish declaration of Israel’s independence induced surrounding Arab states to attack. At the end of the war, Israel controlled around 50 percent more territory than originally envisioned in the UN partition plan. The country did Nakba (a Holocast) on the Palestinian people and expelled about 80% of Arabs from its territory. Jordan controlled the West Bank and Jerusalem’s holy sites, and Egypt controlled the Gaza Strip. |
| 1964 | The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was formed as the national representative of the Palestinian people. |
| 1967 | A six-day war took place between Israel and Arab states. After the war, Israeli forces seized the Golan Heights from Syria, the West Bank & East Jerusalem from Jordan, and Sinai Peninsula & Gaza strip from Egypt. |
| 1973 | The Yom Kippur War took place between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria. The victory of Israel made it certain that the country is here to stay for a long time. |
Looking at the vicious cycle of violence, many experts have suggested the adoption of the Indian Model of coexistence by both parties.
What is the Indian Model of Coexistence?
- It is based on the principle of democracy and secularism.
- It accommodates religious, ethnic, linguistic, and other diversities through nonviolent discourse.
Why should the Indian Model be adopted?
- First, it would bring lasting peace to the region. Because the model would be formulated on the principle of the mutual bargain. This would keep in mind the interests of Jews as well as Palestinians.
- Second, the model has been successful in keeping India strong and united despite having huge diversity. The diversity and region of the Israel-Palestine is much smaller and hence, there is a higher probability of accommodating sectional interests.
- Third, both Hamas and Israel are here to stay for a long time. Further use of violence has not yielded desired results in the past.
- Fourth, the other alternative i.e the European model of annihilation of natives has not delivered fruitful outcomes in the past. The latest being the unsuccessful attempt by Nazis to dominate the jews in Germany.
- Fifth, considering the current positions, the probability of creating two states as per 1967 boundaries is almost impossible.
- Palestinians are sparsely spread over the land in scores of non-contiguous pockets. That makes a cohesive state unviable.
- Further Israel would be required to free a significant amount of occupied territory in order to realise the 1967 border. This is unlikely to happen in the future.
In a nutshell, the Indian model will help in creating a modern democratic state with equal rights and opportunities for everyone.
Source: The Hindu
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