Is it possible to Maintain Good Relations between Countries whose Liberties Conflict with Each Other?

Contents

Introduction3

Background4

Research Questions6

Major Issues6

Palestinian Refugees from the War in 19487

Israel Security Concerns8

Suicide Bombings8

Border of Jerusalem8

International Status9

Division of Water Resources9

Discussion10

The Two State Solution11

State Sustainability12

Solutions/ Recommendations12

End Notes14

Is it possible to Maintain Good Relations between Countries whose Liberties Conflict with Each Other?

Introduction

The Israel-Palestine conflict is supposed to be the main reason behind the lack of intra-Mediterranean integration. The hopes of both nations were raised with the signing of the Declaration of Principles i.e. Oslo Accords in 1993. It was believed that the economic and political developments in the region; paired with the rapid increase of democratization in the Arab world would improve the situation. The Oslo Accords were meant to have positive impacts on the rest of the Arab world as well both economic and political.

As a consequence of the Declaration of Principles, Palestine would have become the first Muslim democratic state in the region. However, seventeen years later, after the failure of the Oslo Accords, the hopes of the Palestinians were dissipated. The conflict continued to remain as the major source of instability in the region. But, in the early years of the Twenty First century, the long term strategy of United States for a well functioning Middle East gained momentum. By that time, the existing dispute between Israel and Palestine, during the days of Intifada had become quite low. Recently, with the changes in the United States government, the vital issue between the two countries has emerged again. The conflict between Palestine and Israel continues to affect the economic, political, social and cultural developments not only in the two countries but in the whole region. Sadly, the recent speculation and negotiations with both governments has not bore any fruits and the dispute still stands and continues to affect the lives of both nations.

Background

Traditionally, the overall conflict between Israel and Palestine has served as an igniting element in the conflicts of the Arab region. In the past few decades, the security situation between both countries has only intensified. The primary conflict rests in the decision of whether the Palestinians should be allowed to form their own independent country and government in the region that is controlled by Israel. The territorial distribution between both countries has changed numerous times ever since their inception. Due to the global economic instability and security concerns in the region; and the reliance of the western world on the oil resources in the region; stability in the region is of vital importance to United States. The international community has offered many solutions to resolve the issue between the two countries, but none of them have been successful.

The Israel-Palestine conflict emerged in the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth century, primarily due to the formation of two vital nationalist movements in the Muslims and the Jews. Both of the movements were meant to attain sovereignty for their people in the region. A collision of ideology between the two forces further led to the development of ...