People these days talk about being "Citizens of the World." We are all humans, after all. It is not just people's homelands that they are proud of, but being human in general. What does it mean the be a citizen of the world? It means that we are aware that it is not just yourself out there, that the world is more than meets the eye. To do so, you have to educate yourself about all that is going on in the world. One of the biggest current events in the world that is happening is the Palestinian-Israeli border conflict. This conflict affects not just those there, but the entire world.

The Palestinian-Israeli conflict is arguably one of the most publicized border conflicts in modern history, spanning from the late 19^th century up until present day. Although many may know of the conflict, the fact pattern still can cause confusion, which is not a surprise. The sheer length of the conflict means that there have been countless events affecting the volatile situation. The primary questions that arise are how and why did the Palestinian-Israeli conflict begin? How and why has the conflict continued? And what is the situation of the conflict today?

However, it is important to realize the significance of this conflict not being a religious one. The basis of this conflict revolves around Israeli and Palestinian nationalism, instead of Islam and Judaism ideals. In other words, this conflict is not between Muslims and Jews, bantering over whose religion is superior, as the two are fairly similar religions. In fact, both lived in peace in Palestine before World War I. As will be explained, a lot of the fighting has stemmed from unwarranted land seizures and many broken resolutions.

In 1917, one year after the Sykes-Picot Agreement, the British Foreign Secretary, Arthur Balfour, signs the Balfour Declaration. The Declaration, written to a top British Zionist, stated Britain’s support for the Zionist movement. The Declaration stated that “His Majesty's Government view with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object”. The main reason given for the enactment of this Declaration was British sympathizing with the Zionist movement. However, it is worth mentioning that Britain had also hoped to use this Declaration in order to strategically establish lasting control of the area East of the Suez Canal. This clearly backfired. Again, this went against the original deal Britain made within the Husayn-McMahon Correspondence, as they were doing the opposite of supporting Arab independence in Palestine.

After World War I had ended, Britain was awarded control over the Arabs and Jews living within Palestine, in accordance with agreements previously made and mentioned. The land was called British-Mandate Palestine, and saw a large influx of migrating Jews becoming established in this newly British-ruled land. The first large conflict between the Arabs and Jews subsiding in Palestine was in 1921 after Emir Abdullah was awarded the land East of the Jordan River in order to establish what we now know as modern day Jordan. Violence broke out on the border of Tel-Aviv and Jaffa, killing numerous people from both Jewish and Arab sides.The second wave of violence cam eight years after, in 1929, where Jews and Arabs within Palestine erupted in fighting, resulting in the death of more than 60 Jews, known as the Hebron Massacre.

Arguably the most significant event within the Palestinian-Israeli conflict happened on June 5, 1967, known as “the Setback” for Arabs, but more popularly referred to as the Israeli name, the “Six Day War”. Within these six days, Israel managed to triple their land mass held, by attacking Egypt and seizing The Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip from Egypt, the Golan Heights from Syria, and the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan. Israel began to establish settlements in these newly acquired areas, claiming them to be Jewish lands, citing religious texts. In response, the United Nations passed Resolution 242, asking Israel to remove forces from their newly acquired lands, and to respect the independence of states surrounding Israel. In 1973, Egypt and Syria responded to Israel’s new acquisitions by attacking Israeli forces stationed in the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights. However, neither country was able to re-seize their lands, as Israel maintained control.

In 1978 the Camp David Accord, arguably the most significant accord, was signed by Anwar Sadat, President of Egypt, Menachem Begin, the Prime Minister of Israel, and Jimmy Carter, President of the United States in hopes to restore peace to the region. It called for Israel to return the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt. Its significance stemmed from the fact that it was the first time an Arab leader had signed any sort of agreement with the newly established country of Israel, legitimizing its existence. However, this peace was short lived. In 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon in order to halt the advance of Hezbollah in fears that the Shi’a Muslim group would begin attacking Israel from Lebanon. And again in 1982, Israel kills about 2000 Arab Palestinian refugees in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps.

In 1987, the famous Palestinian Intifada (or uprising) begins and lasts several years. This uprising included prolonged riots and violence, and the classic scene of Palestinians hurling rocks and Israeli forces. What distinguished this rebellion from previous Palestinian ones was the fact that it lasted about six years, and it was the first time actual Palestinian civilians, including women, from the West Bank and Gaza participated in the violence, instead of solely the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). The Intifada also marked the establishment of Hamas, a group which some describe as militant, however they eventually held a large stake in Palestinian parliament. In 1988, the leader of Palestine condemns terrorism and recognizes Israel as a state.

In 1993, the PLO and Israel signed a Declaration of Principals in Washington, beginning the Oslo Peace Process of both sides gradually working towards ultimate peace using slow exchanges of land for peace. The Declaration called for Israel to recognize the PLO, and for the PLO to give up land as established after 1967 and call for the end of the Intifada. Oslo marked the first time both Israelis and Palestinians recognized each other’s country independence. Two years later, Oslo II was signed, allowing the Palestinians to now govern their own lands in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as hold elections. The 1998 Wye River Memorandum also facilitated further Israeli decampment in the Gaza Strip. And furthermore, leaving their positions in Lebanon completely by 2000.

After failed peace talks between Bill Clinton, Palestinian heads, and the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Barak, in October of 2000, Barak resigned and gave way to right wing Ariel Sharon to take power in Israel. However, Palestinians were upset with this change, as one month earlier Sharon marched to Temple Mount (or al-Aqsa) with 1000 armed guards. As a result of Sharon marching on one of the holiest sites in either Islam or Judaism, protests and further violence broke out, in what was eventually deemed the significantly more violent, Al-Aqsa Intifada.

The situation today in the region was significantly shaped in 2004 after the Palestinian leader Arafat, dies and in turn, Hamas is elected into many high placing seats in Parliament. Since then, trading of attacks between the two sides has continued. With Hamas authorizing more military action against Israelis, Israelis have responded by using their superior Israeli Defense Force (IDF) to crack down on militants. Without going into detail of the attacks, the significance is that there is no true end in sight.

The fighting that still rages on, with an even ever more growing sense of nationalism for both sides. The British promised Palestinians a state after World War I, and it is understandable that the Palestinian people are tired of waiting to have their own state. Not only have they not been granted their own Palestinian sate, but they feel that the Israelis now conquer the land that used to be theirs. Similarly to Palestine, Israel was promised its own state after World War I, and because of their superior military, along with other factors, were able to get a larger area of Palestine. That being said, they now have the right to protect their borders. Essentially, Israel wants to maintain and secure the land it already controls, while the Palestinians continue to push to regain their land.

Who is the rightful owner of the land? As college students and the future of the world we need to solve this conflict. There is no definitive answer, but as humans, we need to figure it out.