CSS Current Affairs | Grassroots Movements and the Palestine Conflict
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Outline
1- Introduction
2- Historical background
3- Current situation of the Palestine conflict
4- What are the grassroots movements for the Israel-Palestinian issue?
5- What does civil society take the initiative?
6- Impact of civil society and grassroots movements on the Israel-Palestine conflict and peace-building efforts
- ✓People to People programs
- Case in point: Seeds of Peace initiative, which coordinates summer camps for Israeli and Palestinian adolescents to foster connections and cultivate conflict resolution abilities.
- ✓First intifada
- Case in point: Mary Elizabeth King researched how these acts attracted global attention and backing, exerting pressure on Israel and ultimately resulting in the Oslo Accords.
- ✓Liberal civil society
- Case in point: Peace Now and the Geneva Initiative have actively supported a two-state solution and facilitated public discourse on matters of Peace.
- ✓Workshop dialogues
- Case in point: a study conducted by Professor Mohammed S. Dajani Daoudi, these workshops have decreased biases and encouraged harmonious exchanges effectively.
- ✓Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act
- Case in point: As per the US Agency for International Development (USAID), this act has enabled many efforts, such as providing funds for collaborative economic enterprises and community projects between Israel and Palestine.
7- Critical Analysis
8-conclusion
Answer to the Question
Introduction
Amidst a region characterized by frequent political turmoil and hostility, the only possibility of achieving enduring Peace rests with ordinary citizens rather than diplomats and politicians. Israel- Palestine war is a major conflict that has been escalating as time flies. Since the 19th century, Israel and Palestine have been in a war-like situation, which started many times and ended in some accords or ceasefire. Unfortunately, the current situation of the war, since October 7, 2023, is dreadful as Hamas, ruling The Gaza Strip, has fiercely attacked Israel. Because of this extraordinary surprise assault that arrived by land, sea, and air on a Jewish holiday and also fell on the Sabbath, Israeli military force stated “a state of war alert” and sent its troops to Gaza, targeting numerous locations, including domestic and healthcare facilities. Israelis, now, are determined to remove Palestinians completely from their motherland. However, different nonpolitical and non-official movements have been raising voices for Peace in the region as youth protests against Israel’s violence grab the attention of the international community. Moreover, civil society is aggressively taking initiatives, such as boycotts of Israeli products, strikes, and protests for peace-building in Israel. In illustration, civilians’ Boycott of McDonald’s puts its worth down.
Historical Background
According to historical records, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict may be traced back to the middle of the eighteenth century. Resolution 181, widely known as the Partition Plan, was ratified by the United Nations in 1947. The establishment of the Israeli state on May 14, 1948, initiated the first Arab-Israeli War. In 1949, Israel emerged triumphant from the conflict, causing 750,000 Palestinians to flee their homes and eventually dividing the area into three separate territories: the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and Israel proper. With time, different wars and tensions among Israel, Palestine, Egypt, and Syria were escalating, resulting in the form of some accords like the Oslo Accord and the Abraham Accord, which were not long-lasting. Despite several attempts at Peace, the conflict rages on. It remains unresolved, with adverse consequences for the region and its people.
Current Situation of the Palestine Conflict
In response to an attack by Hamas on Israel, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) carried out airstrikes on October 7, 2023. They moved on the ground in the Gaza Strips. Hamas has kept the location and health status of Israeli and foreign hostages secret, and their attempts to free more than one hundred hostages are still unsuccessful. According to reports, a staggering number of almost two million residents of Gaza, or more than 85 per cent of the population, have fled their homes since the IDF’s attacks in October 2023. According to the Hamas-controlled Gazan Health Ministry, the number of deaths in Gaza has exceeded 35,000. Nevertheless, verifying these data is difficult because of the restricted international access to the strip. Nevertheless, Israel and Hamas have yet to reach a consensus on the conditions for an immediate cessation of hostilities. The crisis has resulted in heightened regional tensions across the Middle East. While Houthi rebels in Yemen have fired missiles at Israeli and Red Sea commercial ships, Hezbollah militants in Lebanon have clashed with the Israel Defense Forces. There have been many attacks on American military bases in Iraq and Syria carried out by militias supported by Iran. In addition, the whole population of Gaza is now facing a severe food crisis, which greatly increases the danger of hunger and has a particularly detrimental impact on vulnerable populations.
What are the Grassroots Movements for the Israel-Palestine Issue?
Grassroots movements are organized by non-official and nonpolitical members against the war between Israel and Palestine. For this purpose, people-to-person contact is started, and communication and dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians are facilitated. Also, their purpose is to create opportunities for face-to-face coordination and understanding. Further, Israeli women are raising their voices for Peace and harmony. This is a non-judicial initiative in which Israeli women are asserting the need for Peace and reconciliation. Similarly, organizations such as Roots bring Israel and Palestine together through their joint activities like joint meals or iftar during Ramadan and youth groups. In the same way, the artistic settlement process promotes understanding and dialogues under the Feel Beit and Ha Mifal groups. Last but not least, multifaith initiatives are taken by establishing organizations like Mekudeshet, Elijah, and Mosaica. These organizations work to boost interfaith dialogue and cooperation.
What are the Initiatives Taken by Civil Society?
Several new civil society initiatives in curbing the conflict between Israel and Palestine are providing hope for the future. These initiatives are the efforts that are both from intra groups, such as secular and religious Jews in Israel; Palestinians from political camps and inter groups like Jews and Arab citizens from Israel; Israelis and Palestinians from the West Bank. In this regard, Palestinian civil society initiated a nonviolent mass movement during the first intifada in 1987. They recorded their protest through demonstrations, strikes, and boycotts of Israeli goods.
Impact of Civil Society and Grassroots movements on the Israel-Palestine conflict and Peace-building Efforts
- People-to-people programs
The effectiveness of people-to-people programs is demonstrated by initiatives such as the Bereaved Families Forum, which facilitates the coming together of Israelis and Palestinians who have experienced the loss of family members in the conflict. The said programs have promoted communication and encouraged development, resulting in an insightful comprehension between the two parties involved. Seeds of Peace initiative is another example of organizing summer camps for Israeli and Palestinian adolescents to foster connections and cultivate conflict resolution abilities.
- First Intifada
The influence exerted by grassroots movements is the First Intifada, which was initiated in 1987, which is a notable illustration. Palestinian civil society organizations organized a peaceful and extensive movement that involved strikes, protests, and the boycotting of Israeli goods throughout the time frame. Mary Elizabeth King, in her book A Quiet Revolution, explains how these acts attracted global attention and backing, exerting pressure on Israel and ultimately resulting in the Oslo Accords. The aim of these agreements was to provide a whole framework for achieving Peace.
- Liberal Civil Society
Peace has been established with major contributions from the progressive civic society that emerged from the Oslo peace process. Public discussion on peace issues has been aggressively promoted by groups such as Peace Now and the Geneva Initiative. Several papers and studies, notably those by the International Crisis Group, document their efforts and highlight their role in maintaining the peace process and encouraging dialogue despite challenges.
- Dialogue Workshops
Dialogue workshops, sponsored or promoted by the Parents Circle-Families Forum and Combatants for Peace, have facilitated understanding and reconciliation. Professor Mohammed S. Dajani Daoudi’s Peace and Conflict Studies research found that these workshops eliminated stereotypes and made people more open to getting along with others. Many people understand, respect, and acknowledge differing or opposing viewpoints and are keen to participate in group activities for a healthy dialogue or debate.
- Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act
Supporting Middle Eastern peace efforts has advanced significantly with the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act. This act offers programs that advance economic cooperation between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, as well as community development and significant financial support. These initiatives have, so far as the US Agency for International Development (USAID) is concerned, improved cooperation and understanding between the two groups. According to research by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), these are the efforts that have enabled the implementation of a wide range of grassroots and civil society initiatives, laying a solid foundation for long-term peacekeeping.
Critical Analysis
Despite immense efforts by civil society organizations and grassroots movements, achieving long-term Peace in Israel-Palestine remains a difficult task. This is owing to the long duration of the conflict. Political pressure from outside the conflict zone, continuous bloodshed, and long-standing animosities often obstruct peace efforts. Nonetheless, the work of these groups is critical to the region’s continued stability and rehabilitation. As a result, to build a long-term peace solution and armistice, the UN and the international community must prioritize and support these grassroots measures. These programs, which are fundamental for bigger peace efforts, encourage the development of the understanding and discourse required for any long-term peace settlement. This understanding and conversation are critical for the execution of any peace deal.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, a substantial impact on the pursuit of peaceful coexistence and the reduction of tensions between Israelis and Palestinians is due to the efforts of grassroots organizations and initiatives within civil society. It is evident that these programs are critical for the development of communication, understanding, and problem resolution but remain unaffected by the fact that they are unable to solve every problem independently. To establish a lasting peace, the international community, grassroots movements, and government cooperation must all work together unwaveringly. The construction of a lasting peace in the Middle East is dependent on the effective implementation of a well-coordinated plan.
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