The Origins of the Conflict

The conflict between Israelis and Palestinians began with the rise of the modern political movement of Zionism in Europe. The British government's Balfour Declaration in 1917, which promised support for the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine, was motivated by their desire to secure a foothold in the Middle East, address anti-Semitism in Europe, and gain Jewish support for the war effort. However, the majority of Jews worldwide initially opposed Zionism, as it was seen as heretical by Orthodox Jews. It's also important to note that there was significant support for Zionism from anti-Semites, both Jewish and non-Jewish, such as Lord Balfour and the German government. The conflict further intensified with the passing of the UN General Assembly Resolution 181, which recommended a partition plan for Palestine in 1947. This plan was inherently inequitable, as it allocated the majority of the land to a Jewish state, even though Arabs owned more land in every district of Palestine. The neighboring Arab states intervened in the 1948 war to try to prevent ongoing ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, but ultimately failed to stop the establishment of the state of Israel. The claims that Israel was created by the United Nations are untrue, as it was a unilateral declaration that had no basis in international law, and Israel to this day lacks legally defined borders.