The Gaza Strip and the west bank

1
The Gaza Strip and the west bank
areas of conflict
2
Introduction to the Gaza Strip
The Gaza Strip forms the westernmost portion of
Palestinian territory, bordering Egypt on the
southwest and Israel on the north and east. It
also has direct contact with the Mediterranean
sea on the west side. It is an area of 360 km
squared, and houses approximately 1.4 million
Palestinians. The area has arable land, and
about 1/3 of the strip is irrigated. Recently,
natural gas has been discovered and is an
important natural resource. The economic output
of the area declined by about 1/3 between 1992
and 1996. This has been attributed to
mismanagement, corruption, and closure policies
that have disrupted the market relationships
between Israel and the Gaza Strip. High
unemployment is a result of this. A short
recovery was seen between 1996 and 2000 because
of the relaxed security policies with Israel, but
after the emergence of the al-Aqsa Intifada, the
region began to suffer. Destruction of capital
plant, administrative structure, and a sharp drop
in GDP have been noted. The main trade partners
are Israel, Egypt, and the West Bank.
3
The West Bank

• The west bank refers to the west bank of the
  Jordan River, and was formerly referred to as
  Judea and Samaria. The territory was part of the
  British mandate of Palestine, and during the
  Arab- Israeli war of 1948 it was captured by
  Jordan and annexed. It was under Jordanian rule
  until the 1967 Arab- Israeli war when it was
  captured by Israel, but Jordan did not relinquish
  its claims to the region until 1988.
• The armistice agreement of 1949 had a
  metaphorical Green Line drawn that separated
  Israel from the West Bank. During the 1950s,
  there was a significant number of Palestinian
  refugees crossing the Green Line into the West
  Bank because of increasing violence.
• The Oslo Accords of 1993 separated the West Bank
  into three categories, these being 1) Palestinian
  controlled and administered, 2) Israeli
  controlled but Palestinian administered, and 3)
  Israeli controlled and administered, which
  constitute 17, 24, and 59 of the territory
  respectively. This is an attempt to have the two
  groups cooperate.

4
History of the Conflict
The Gaza Strip and the West Bank were created in
1949, after the armistice of the Arab-Israeli War
of 1948. The war began after the State of Israel
declared independence on May 14 1948, and was
recognized by the United States, the Soviet
Union, and others. The UN partitioned the area
into Jewish and Palestinian areas, and the war
ended with the Israelis holding the territory
designated for them as well as a significant
portion of the designated Palestinian territory,
in total about 78 of the former British mandate
territory, which was 50 more than the UN
allotted them. The remaining Palestinian
territories, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip,
which were occupied by Transjordan and Egypt
respectively. Egypt held the Gaza Strip until
it was captured by Israel during the 1967 Arab-
Israeli War. After the conquest of this
territory a large settlement effort was affected
to secure Israels permanent foothold. However,
in 2005 the Israeli settlements in Gaza were
evacuated and destroyed as part of the Israels
unilateral disengagement plan. The West Bank was
ceded by Jordan to the PLO in 1988, and
approximately 2.5 million Palestinians reside
there, with approximately 30 being refugees from
the 1948 war.
5
Territorial Factors

• Many Palestinians believe that they should
  be allotted the entire Gaza Strip as well as the
  West Bank, but this view is strongly contradicted
  by Israel. They do not believe that the
  Palestinians should be given control of this land
  due to lack of formal political dictation, as
  well as the possible issues of security that
  would surface. However, neither side is willing
  to compromise in their negotiations as each feels
  that this will violate their rights, and this
  elevates tensions greatly. The Hamas group also
  takes the Palestinian view further in pressing
  that they control all of Israel prior to the Six
  Day War of 1967, upsetting Israel even further.
• As well, the Palestinian refugees who fled
  Israel after its creation believe that they have
  a Right of Return to where their ancestors once
  lived, and left wing Israelis are open to this
  idea. However, most Israelis believe that legal
  control over the lands is theirs, and also that
  these lands are needed for the economic
  prosperity and livelihoods of many people. It
  has been stated that Palestinianflight from
  Israel was not compelled but rather encouraged to
  some degree by Arab leaders, and that there are
  no official records to guarantee the return of
  the Palestinian refugees. This issue also stems
  from territorial and geographical unrest
  revolving around the Gaza Strip and other
  important areas, and significantly increases
  tension.

6
Economic Factors

• There is a contention for the fair
  distribution of natural resources, as
  Palestinians worry about retaining enough to
  sustain their economy. A large and highly coveted
  resource is water, and many wells that are
  utilized in the collecting of fresh water are
  located in Palestine, there is debate over the
  legal rights of Israel using the water. However,
  Israel uses the Oslo II Accord in defense, which
  states that both sides will keep their existing
  consumption of resources. Indeed, this may allow
  Israeli access but some estimates suggest that
  Palestinians located in the West Bank use only
  about 15 of the available water. The prices for
  land and water have risen and also have caused a
  decline in agricultural output.
• The implemented policies that the Israelis have
  come up with also produce much conflict and
  overall can only be described as having a
  negative effect on the economy.

7
Political Factors

• The Palestinian issue in Israel has been a major
  problem for every coalition of government, and
  has also been their downfalls. Prime Ministers
  Rabin, Peres, Netanyahu, Barak, and Sharon have
  failed to act accordingly to implement enough
  change. Even a desperate attempt to improve
  political stability, allowing the direct election
  of the prime minister just worsened the already
  quickly deteriorating political situation.
• Israel has a proportional voting system, and
  this allows many issues to determine the voting
  outcome. As a result, the government often does
  not have the clear goal it needs and is very
  diverse in opinions and agendas, thus hindering
  the solving of the Palestinian problem.
• The Gaza Strip and West Bank also harbour some of
  the strongest and high motivated settlers, and
  the government has seen fit to give them
  temporary settlement and expansion. However, this
  only postpones the inevitable confrontation over
  territory, and also enlarges the area of
  conflict.
• Overall, the inefficient Israeli government has
  failed to solve much or satisfy the need for
  stability, and the lack of leadership has
  resulted in many disputes which worsen the
  tensions in the region.

8
Past Efforts at Peace

• Camp David Accords of Sept 1978, with President
  Jimmy Carter and President Sadat of Egypt and PM
  Begin of Israel. Peace treaty between Israel and
  Egypt, a definite border was created. An
  agreement to begin to seek a solution to the
  regional issues. (autonomy for West Bank and
  Gaza for 5 years during which negotiations were
  going to be made)
• Madrid talks of Oct.1991, begin a series of
  bilateral negotiations between Israel and those
  with territorial claims, and talks on regional
  resources arms control, refugees economic
  development.
• Israeli-PLO Accord Palestinian recognition of
  Israeli existence, renounced terrorism, rejected
  PLO Covenant calling for destruction of Israel.
  Sept. 13, 1993. Accord also provided Palestinian
  self-rule in the GS and WB town of Jericho.
  Israel retains sovereignty over Israeli
  settlements in the West Bank.
• Oslo II Interim Agreements, Sept. 1995, Israel
  and Palestinians agreed to the holding of
  elections for a Palestinian Council. Israeli
  withdrawal from major cities of west bank and
  giving authority to PNA. Series of Terror Attacks
  within Israel by HAMAS lead to loss of support of
  a moderate party in Israel.
• Wye River Memorandum was signed by PNA Israeli
  government, stronger actions to stop violence,
  revoke clauses in Palestinian National charter
  considered hostile to Israel. A Safe Passage
  between west bank and Gaza Strip. Shortlived, due
  to a political crisis in Israel.

9
Proposed Solution

• Make Jerusalem an international zone
• Gaza Strip and West Bank becomes Palestinian
  territory with a connecting road to the two areas
  (no check stops ID cards etc)
• Free trade between the two countries and between
  each one and the western powers
• Palestinian people should be allowed to work in
  Israel, Full citizenship rights is given to the
  Palestinian currently living in Israel.
• Violence from either side is forbidden and will
  be punished
• No cutting of resources on either side (Israel
  diverting the river to prevent Palestinians from
  having a fresh, clean water source)
• These two countries will sign an accord
  recognizing the existence of both countries
• Increased foreign aid to the entire region, in
  the form of food and basic necessities
• Ban on weaponry and trading of arms, and any
  western aid in the form of capital or arms to
  either countries the United States, Iran and
  Russia should be forced to stop aiding Israel by
  means of weaponry and capital.
• News of both regions will be provided by a
  neutral UN set up broadcast system, to prevent
  propaganda in the region including the display of
  violent images to stir anger etc.

10
Reasons for Solution

• Territorial, Political and Economical factors are
  all being dealt with in the solution.
• People choose to polarize their political
  thinking to the extreme left or right at times of
  economic disparity, therefore boosting the
  economy will make citizens more opt to moderate
  thinking and peace making.
• Human rights is a factor that has to be
  guaranteed anywhere in the world, and therefore
  the unfair treatment of others because of their
  race/religion is emphasized in our solution
• We believe that the American and Iranian
  intervention in the entire situation makes the
  situation more complicated, as it escalades this
  event to a bigger level. As well, it gives the
  Hamas and other Arab organizations a good reason
  for propaganda materials targeting towards
  Israelis. Therefore, we suggest the backing of
  America in this situation by means of decreasing
  their aid towards Israel.
• Propaganda is often used to incite hate and anger
  among people, and many Palestinians and Israelis
  are fooled by the media, and thus these
  brainwashing ways contribute to these people
  supporting extremist ideologies and/or violence.
  Eliminating the factor of propaganda is also
  important in our peace treaty, and it is
  important that the UN educate the population from
  both sides to achieve peace and cooperation.