The Historical Context of the Palestinian Conflict

The long-standing conflict involving the Palestinian people is rooted in historical events, particularly centered around the Balfour Declaration of 1917. This declaration expressed British support for establishing a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine, ignoring the majority Palestinian population at that time. Rashid Khalidi emphasizes that early Zionist leaders openly recognized their actions as part of a settler colonial process, aiming to take over land occupied by Palestinians. Despite modern framing that often casts Zionism as anti-colonial, the historical narrative underscores the dispossession of Palestinians and the ongoing settler colonial dynamics evident in Israeli policies.