Key Messages
The History Of Palestine From A Palestinian Perspective: Exploring Rashid Khalidi’s Narrative Of Colonialism, Diplomacy, And The Search For Peace
The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine tells the story of the long and difficult history of Palestine from the perspective of Palestinians.
In this book, Rashid Khalidi examines how British colonialism kick-started Israel’s formation and explore where the PLO failed diplomatically.
He then follows with a look at several movements that show promise for peace.
This riveting book takes an in-depth look at Palestinian history, drawing on archival research, primary sources, and personal accounts to create a compelling account of events since 1917 up to the present day.
It provides readers with a well-grounded overview of Palestine from a Palestinian perspective, giving insight into what it has been like to live through centuries of occupation and conflict.
This powerful work is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the complex issue that is the Israeli-Palestine conflict – and gain valuable insights into the stories, struggles and triumphs of those most affected by its ongoing tensions.
The Colonization Of Palestine Was Accelerated By British Rule And Impacted Palestinian National Identity
For centuries, Palestine was under the control of the Ottoman Empire and was populated by 94% Arabs who were mostly Muslim with a small minority of Jews and Christians.
The region was slowly becoming more modernized but this all changed in 1917 when World War I ended Ottoman rule and British took control of Palestine.
The British then issued the Balfour Declaration, which declared the formation of a Jewish “national home” in Palestine.
This document promised to protect the civil and religious rights of their non-Jewish population, but made no mention of political rights or right to national self-determination, therefore accelerating colonization within Palestine.
From 1919 until 1928, Palestinians held multiple congresses petitioning Britain for independence but were unsuccessful.
This allowed the Zionist project to progress further as the League of Nations issued the Mandate for Palestine in 1922 which provided legal framework for Jewish self-governance in the region and almost exclusively granted foreign investment access to those communities.
By 1929, 20%of Palestine had become populated by Jews largely due to colonization by Britain– causing tensions among Palestinian people to rise even higher.
The Nakba Demonstrated The Undeniable Consequences Of Colonialism In The Middle East
The Nakba refers to the violent displacement of a majority of Palestinians from their homes in 1948.
This mass uprooting was precipitated by Plan Dalet, an organized assault launched by Zionist militias against Arab communities located within and outside the United Nations’ partition of Palestine.
Using overwhelming force, these forces displaced tens of thousands of Palestinians across the Middle East.
The destruction caused by them not only took away homes and land but also political, economic and cultural independence.
This is regarded as one of the most significant catastrophes in modern history, greatly reducing the chances for a successful Palestinian future.
This event still resonates with pain to this day; the repercussions add up to a lasting legacy that has had a major impact on both Israel and Palestine, as well as on their relationship with each other.
The Six-Day War Of 1967: How A Short Conflict Changed The Future Of Palestine Forever
The Six-Day War of 1967 was a brief conflict between Israel and several neighboring countries.
It began after Egypt closed the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping, prompting an abrupt preemptive strike by Israel on their enemies.
The war resulted in Israel’s successful expansion of territory in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Sinai Peninsula.
The hostilities of the Six-Day War had far-reaching consequences for Palestine.
Israel emerged as the dominant power in the region with its military might and backing from the United States.
Moreover, Resolution 242 passed by the United Nations effectively cemented Israel’s 1948 borders while disregarding Palestinian claims – creating a long-term imbalance in power between Palestine and Israel.
But far from entirely negating Palestine, this war ushered in a new age of resistance for the Palestinian people.
Before 1967, their cause had weakened; now it returned with newly found determination via exiled writers like Emile Habibi, Ghassan Kanafani and political organizations such as Fatah and its more militant branch PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization).
This movement for liberation subsequently campaigned for recognition and justice for all Palestinians.
All in all, what can be said is that The Six-Day War established Israeli dominance and reawakened Palestinian resistance – an uneasy balance which has endured to this day.
The 1982 Lebanon War Led To A Renewed Push For Palestinian Freedom
The Lebanon War of 1982 was a devastating turning point in the centuries-long conflict between Palestine and Israel.
The hostilities began with Israeli air raids on Beirut, which resulted in widespread destruction and the death of 19,000 people.
Even after the PLO negotiated for peace, violence continued with the Phalangist-led massacre at Sabra and Shatila.
At first glance, it appeared that these events disrupted and weakened the Palestinian cause as a whole.
However, upon closer inspection, it is clear that it had quite the opposite effect as well.
The experiences of suffering and injustice faced by Palestinians during this war helped to galvanize them into a more unified movement determined to gain freedom from oppression.
This realization spurred further action on their part across the occupied territories of West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.
It united Palestinians together in a shared determination to fight against systemic injustices thrust upon them by Israel’s military actions.
In this way, instead of sundering support among Palestinians, the Lebanon War served to animate them toward fighting for their autonomy as a nation and people.
The First Intifada Sparked Hope For Palestinian Resistance, But Ended With An Ill-Conceived Treaty
The First Intifada, or popular uprising, highlighted the long-term frustration Palestinians had with Israel’s oppressive rule in the Occupied Territories.
Although the intifada was largely peaceful, protesters were met with disproportionate violence and sometimes deadly force.
As a result of this pushback, Israel eventually agreed to negotiations in an attempt to quell tensions.
Unfortunately, these negotiations produced the Oslo I and II Accords which proved disastrous for Palestine.
The PLO was allowed to return to the territories but only gained a limited form of self-government through the Palestinian Authority (PA).
In exchange for these very meager concessions, they had to officially recognize Israel as a state and accept its inherent right over critical issues like security and residency.
Ultimately, while it pushed Israel into negotiation mode, this ill-conceived agreement effectively transferred all real power over to them while leaving Palestinians with next-to-nothing.
Therefore, while this may have been seen as a pathway towards Palestinian statehood at the time, it ultimately failed to bring about true liberation and justice for people living in the Occupied Territories.
The Israeli Occupation Of The Palestinian Territories Led To The Rise Of Militant Groups Like Hamas And Intense Resentment That Culminated In Several Violent Conflicts Between Israel And Hamas
The Palestinian people have been subjected to decades of Israeli oppression and control, and this has led to an increase in frustration and anger among the populace.
This has been especially true since the Oslo Accords were signed in 1993 – while they did offer initial hope to Palestinians, they also provided little real change or freedom from Israeli control.
One of the results of this ongoing oppression is that it helped create and foster the rise of militant groups like Hamas.
Prior to the accords, such groups had not been a major force in regional politics, but after years of living under occupation, many Palestinians began calling for more robust action against Israel – and Hamas was eager to provide it.
Hamas emerged as a powerful political party in 2006 when it won control of the Palestinian Authority.
In response, Israel imposed a full siege on Gaza: cutting off food, water, electricity, and effectively making it an open-air prison.
In retaliation for these restrictions, militants affiliated with Hamas would fire homemade rockets across the border into Israel.
To combat this form of resistance, Israel employed the Dahyia doctrine which called for overwhelming military retaliation against Palestinian civilians – even those uninvolved with militants activities.
The result was three devastating incursions into Gaza between 2014 and 2019 that left thousands of people dead and entire neighborhoods leveled by fighting.
To this day, Palestinians are still struggling with continued trouble from more radical elements inside their own population – including Hamas – partially due to lingering levels of Israeli oppression that have yet to be resolved despite years (some would say centuries) of negotiations
The Uncertain Future Of Palestine: How Will This Colonial Occupation End?
The events of the last century in Palestine are a testament to the reality of colonial occupations and their possible outcomes.
From complete elimination or subjugation of indigenous people to full expulsion of colonizers and dismantling the colonial power, there is a clear record of what history has taught us.
It is impossible to predict which outcome will arise from the occupation in Palestine, but there is hope that peace and justice can still be achieved.
Despite decades of dispossession and discrimination, Palestinian resistance remains strong – through boycotts, divestment and sanctions campaigns – as they strive to protect their rights.
However, progress cannot be made until all interested parties involve themselves in open dialogue while respecting the emotional connection both sides feel with this land.
US policy changes like President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital only elevate tensions on both sides while undercutting decades-long agreements towards neutrality.
A collaborative pathway forward must involve consideration for both Israeli citizens and Palestinians living within Israel proper, as well as those in Occupied Territories.
The future for Palestine may remain uncertain, however advocacy focused on peace and justice is still necessary to achieve a lasting resolution which respects all stakeholders involved.
Wrap Up
The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine is a powerful and enlightening book.
It shines a spotlight on the ongoing struggle of Palestinians, who have been subjected to an unjust settler-colonialist movement for over one hundred years.
This campaign has had significant backing from European powers, as well as current support from the US.
Nevertheless, despite heavy hardships, Palestinians still fight for recognition by the world and its leaders.
The book’s key findings are that any potential resolution will require full rights for all people in Palestine so they can work, travel, live and exercise their right to self determination without limitation.
