The awakening: Why the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is about more than borders - opinion
For decades, a simple explanation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict took hold across broad segments of Israel’s Left and Center: at its core, the conflict was territorial.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is more than just a territorial dispute, according to a recent opinion piece. The recent Oct. 7 massacre has shaken the belief that the conflict is solely about borders and land. Instead, the author argues that the core issue may be the legitimacy of a Jewish state in the region. This perspective has gained traction among parts of Israel's Left and Center.
The author acknowledges that not every Palestinian seeks Israel's destruction, but points out the growing influence of Islamist religious ideology in Palestinian society over recent decades. Hamas, for example, views the struggle as part of a broader religious and historical vision, not just a territorial dispute.
Understanding this perspective has been challenging for the West, which has historically framed the conflict in terms of borders, settlements, sovereignty, and self-determination. However, these concepts do not fully explain the intensity of the hatred, the glorification of martyrs, or the fact that Gaza, after Israeli withdrawal in 2005, became a military stronghold for Hamas.
The October 7 massacre was not directed at settlements in the West Bank, but rather at communities within sovereign Israel. For the terrorists who entered those communities, the presence of Israeli sovereignty was itself a source of occupation. This realization is leading to a shift in the debate within Israel, questioning whether the Palestinian national movement is genuinely capable of accepting the existence of a Jewish state.
The author also highlights the role of Qatar in shaping global public opinion through Al Jazeera, an influential media organization that portrays Israel as the aggressor and Palestinians as victims. This narrative simplifies the complex conflict and downplays questions about the actions of Hamas and the evil regime that invests in military capabilities.
In contrast, Israel often engages in public diplomacy reminiscent of the 1990s, releasing evidence and investigations too late to counter the prevailing narrative. The author argues that the struggle is against an ideology that denies Israel's right to exist and legitimizes violence, not against all Palestinians. Achieving a political settlement will require Palestinians to genuinely accept Israel as a permanent and legitimate reality, a question that the Oct. 7 massacre unfortunately answers negatively.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
