By Ahmad Faraj for The Palestine Observer, August 2022. Modified January 2023.
Below are frequently asked questions about Israel-Palestine.
This resource provides brief, inclusive responses, perfect for those new to the topic and are seeking elementary information.
Why are Israelis and Palestinians fighting, what is it all about?
- Well, for starters, Palestinians are fighting against an illegal occupation (which has turned into an apartheid regime) that was forced against them in 1948 (the Nakba – when Israel’s illegal occupation began). It’s all about an oppressed people fighting their oppressors until they secure freedom.
What is the land’s history, who did it belong to?
- Despite all the propaganda, disinformation, and manipulation, the truth is easy to discern, Palestine belongs to the Palestinians. Israel cannot expect the Christians and the Muslims to give up their land because the Jewish scriptures (according to Zionists) ask them to do so, or because the Jews were persecuted in Europe.
- Palestinians are indigenous to their historic homeland, and stay firm rooted there. They refuse to leave and bow down to a colonialist entity.
- A brief yet accurate history for beginners is available as a short clip, just search the ‘Story of Palestine song’ on YouTube by Eman Askar.
Why is there still violence today even though it’s been going on for 74 years?
- In simple terms, world leaders remain silent whilst Israel’s deadly war crimes go unexposed and unsanctioned. Zionists are continuing to ethnically cleanse Palestinians, and if you were a Palestinian, would you not use self-defence and resist the attempt to drive you out of your historic homeland, all whilst your enemy continues to provoke you?
Is there no solution to this, as it has been ongoing for 74 years?
- When Israel stops committing their war crimes, whether that’s preventing medics and journalists from playing their role, or detaining and targeting children, then violence between both parties can subdue.
- More broadly speaking though, there is only one, simple solution…
- Giving back the land to its owners, because Palestinians will ever give up or back down from fighting for the freedom of Palestine. Muslims refuse to let go of their third holiest site which has been theirs for almost 1000 years.
- This can only happen by world leaders sanctioning Israel.
- A two-state solution is un-viable, here’s why.
Why is Israel occupying the Palestinian territories?
- The two main reasons for today’s occupation of Palestine are the rise of zionism in the late 19th century and the interests of world powers in having an entity loyal to them in the Middle East.
- The idea of Jewish supremacy is instilled in Israelis, whether that be in the right-wing government, what violent acts Israeli settlers commit under the protection of the IDF, or what students are taught in school, this is the cause of them stealing land because they believe they can establish a Jewish only homeland by violently and tactically expelling a population indigenous to that very land who have nowhere else to go.
How have world leaders reacted to the ongoing occupation over time?
- Well, at first, a lot of these leaders were against the occupation or at least pretended to be. In fact, the British handed over Mandatory Palestine to European Jewish refugees escaping persecution, known as the Balfour Declaration. But over time, most world leaders and organizations, including the UN, chose to ignore the atrocities committed by the occupation, and legitimize their alleged state.
- Today many countries are complicit in funding and aiding Israel’s oppression on Palestinians.
What has the UN done about Israel’s continuous breach of International law?
- Israel has violated 28 resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, yet the first thing the UN decided to do is propose a partition plan of Palestine on 29 November 1947, seven months before the Nakba.
- However, the Israeli ‘state’ has greatly breached this partition plan. Although the UN established UNRWA for Palestinian refugees, today Israel is at times condemned (let alone sanctioned) for their ongoing war crimes.
Why are there occasional uprisings & escalations of violence? What causes it & why doesn’t it end?
- The reason is usually due to the Israeli atrocities committed in the occupied West Bank (like Jenin) or the Al-Aqsa Compound. These attacks naturally force Palestinians to remind the occupation that they’ll never give up fighting back.
- Israeli settlers alongside the Israeli army disturb Palestinian peace by imposing tighter restrictions in an attempt to further intensify their oppressive apartheid regime and illegal occupation, and why should Palestinians have that?
- Uprisings make it to the headlines in May and during Ramadan, particularly in 2021 and 2022. This is due to thousands of Israeli settlers under the protection of the IDF provoking Palestinians by storming Islam’s third holiest site (to perform so-called ‘rituals’, which is not permitted, in an attempt to make it apparent the will turn it into the ‘Third Temple’ one day) and holding provocative nationalist marches shouting racist remarks during Independence celebrations all whilst Palestinians recall the Nakba. These uprisings are a result of the worsening situation for Palestinians living in the world’s largest open-air prison.
Will it end, and how? Why is there no peace or freedom?
- In short, from an oppressed Palestinian’s perspective, Yes, it will end. But this will only happen when Zionists leave Palestine and its people alone. Because Israel is an occupying power that chooses ethnic cleansing and the killing of children as a way to scare Palestinians into “submitting”.
- It will stop when Israel stops their atrocities and when the world rightfully punishes Israel for their war crimes, whether that’s settler colonialism or their ongoing 15 year blockade on the Gaza Strip, which is a dream for Palestinians as they know how complicit world leaders are.
- You may be thinking ‘what will happen to all the Jews settled (illegally) on stolen Palestinian land?‘ Well Palestinians are very generous and hospitable, they didn’t mind Jewish refugees from the beginning. It’s when zionists stood up to take control of their land and people in an attempt to ethnically cleanse the indigenous Arab population that Palestinians were left to resist. Israel needs to return their land and their rights, but they can’t whilst its settler-colonial apartheid state, erected on the ruins of their homeland, continues to exist and spew hatred towards Palestinians.
Why should mainstream media not be used as a source for educating on this subject?
- As a result of being in the news more, many people turn to try and learn more about Israel-Palestine. But mainstream media are a no-go-to, because they spread misinformation by favouring Israel and its war crimes, and discarding the Palestinian right to self defence and rather labelling them as ‘terrorists’.
Is it safe to visit there?
- It is usually safe as long as you make sure you go there when there aren’t any escalations. You can also try and coordinate with tourism desks; because they usually have backup plans for times of escalation.
- And if you are a Muslim there is a big possibility you might have a bit of a hard time in the airport (let alone be confused for a Palestinian at checkpoints!) even if you are going through Jordan or Egypt.
- Contact us as some members of our team have visited and can give you advice on how to ensure you’re avoiding Israel profiting from your visit.
MOST Frequently Asked Question: What can I do to help Palestinians fighting for freedom?
- All Palestinians want from people who genuinely want to help them is to listen to their cries and carry them to the rest of the world.
- Educate your family and friends on what’s happening in Palestine, away from the propaganda of mass media.
- Implement practical strategies; show up to as many protests as you can, implement BDS which involves urging your local government to pressurise your government to impose sanctions on Israel due to their war crimes, or simply boycotting companies that operate in illegal settlements for instance.
- Try to learn more about the history of the cause, this can be done by asking real Palestinians, or following social media pages that share the truth.
- We recommend following these pages: Palestine Pixel, Qudsnen, Metras Global, Key48Return, Yazan Khanfer, Friends of Al Aqsa, Engineers4Palestine, PaliRoots, Salem Barahmeh and of course us!
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