The Hundred Years War on Palestine: A Comprehensive Overview
Recent discussions, notably at the American University in Cairo with historian Rashid Khalidi, frame the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a century-long struggle.
This perspective, explored in Khalidi’s work, challenges conventional timelines and invites a re-evaluation of the historical narrative surrounding Palestine.
The U.S.-backed peace plan for Gaza, approved by the UN Security Council, emerges after over two years of intense fighting, adding another layer.
Rashid Khalidi’s conceptualization of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a “Hundred Years War on Palestine” provides a provocative and expansive framework for understanding the enduring nature of the struggle. This framing, recently highlighted during a talk at the American University in Cairo, moves beyond traditional starting points like 1948 or 1967, suggesting a conflict rooted in the early 20th century and continuing to the present day.
Khalidi’s approach isn’t merely a rhetorical device; it’s a historical argument. He posits that the seeds of the current conflict were sown with the Balfour Declaration of 1917 and the subsequent British Mandate, initiating a century of dispossession, resistance, and failed attempts at resolution. This perspective necessitates a re-examination of key events, not as isolated incidents, but as interconnected phases within a prolonged and ongoing war.
The recent U.S.-backed peace plan for Gaza, following over two years of conflict, serves as a contemporary illustration of this protracted struggle. Khalidi’s framework encourages a critical analysis of such initiatives, questioning whether they address the fundamental issues of Palestinian self-determination and historical injustice, or merely offer temporary ceasefires within a larger, unresolved conflict. His work invites a deeper understanding of the historical forces shaping the present reality.
Historical Context: Beyond the 1948 Narrative
Traditional accounts of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict often center on the 1948 Arab-Israeli War – the Nakba – as the primary origin point. However, Rashid Khalidi’s “Hundred Years War” framework demands a broader historical lens, extending significantly before 1948. This necessitates examining the early 20th-century context, specifically the waning years of the Ottoman Empire and the rise of Zionist aspirations.
The Balfour Declaration of 1917, promising a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine, is pivotal. This declaration, made without Palestinian consent, laid the groundwork for increased Jewish immigration and growing tensions with the existing Arab population. The subsequent British Mandate period witnessed escalating violence and the development of competing national movements.
Focusing solely on 1948 obscures the decades of preceding dispossession and resistance. Khalidi argues that the events of 1948 were not a sudden eruption, but rather a culmination of a long process of colonial encroachment and national struggle. Understanding this deeper historical context is crucial for comprehending the enduring complexities of the conflict, and the recent U.S.-backed peace plan for Gaza, as a continuation of this historical trajectory.
The Initial Phase: 1917-1947 – Seeds of Conflict
The period between 1917 and 1947 represents the foundational stage of the conflict, characterized by escalating tensions and the laying of groundwork for future hostilities. The Balfour Declaration, issued in 1917, ignited Palestinian anxieties and fueled the growth of Arab nationalism, directly challenging existing demographics and land ownership.
Following World War I, the British Mandate for Palestine officially began, facilitating increased Jewish immigration. This influx, coupled with land purchases by Zionist organizations, led to growing resentment and sporadic outbreaks of violence between Arabs and Jews. The 1920s and 30s witnessed a series of riots and uprisings, demonstrating the escalating instability.
Despite attempts at mediation by the British, a viable solution proved elusive. The Peel Commission of 1937 proposed partitioning Palestine, a plan rejected by Arab leaders. World War II further complicated matters, and the post-war period saw a surge in Jewish immigration, driven by Holocaust survivors. This period, preceding the 1948 conflict, firmly established the core issues that continue to shape the ongoing struggle, including land, self-determination, and security, and the recent peace initiatives.
The 1948 Nakba and its Aftermath
The year 1948 marks a pivotal and deeply traumatic event in Palestinian history, known as the Nakba, meaning “catastrophe.” Following the termination of the British Mandate and Israel’s declaration of independence, a full-scale war erupted. This conflict resulted in the displacement of an estimated 700,000 to 800,000 Palestinians from their homes and lands.
The causes of this mass displacement remain highly contested. Palestinians attribute it to deliberate expulsion policies by Zionist forces, while Israel maintains that the exodus was largely a result of Arab leaders urging civilians to leave, anticipating a swift victory. Regardless of the precise causes, the Nakba created a massive refugee population, scattered across neighboring Arab countries and beyond.
The aftermath of 1948 saw the establishment of the State of Israel, controlling approximately 78% of historic Palestine. The remaining areas – the Gaza Strip and the West Bank – came under Egyptian and Jordanian control, respectively. The unresolved refugee issue and the territorial disputes laid the foundation for decades of continued conflict, and the recent U.S.-backed peace plan attempts to address these long-standing grievances, though with limited success.
The 1967 War: A Turning Point
The Six-Day War of 1967 represents a watershed moment in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, dramatically altering the geopolitical landscape and intensifying the struggle. Israel’s preemptive strikes against Egypt, Jordan, and Syria resulted in a swift and decisive victory, leading to the occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Golan Heights.
For Palestinians, the 1967 war meant a second wave of displacement and the imposition of Israeli military rule over a significantly larger Palestinian population. The occupation brought with it restrictions on movement, land confiscations, settlement construction, and the suppression of Palestinian political and cultural expression. This period witnessed the rise of Palestinian nationalist movements, seeking self-determination and an end to the occupation.
Resolution 242 of the United Nations Security Council, passed in November 1967, called for Israel’s withdrawal from territories occupied in the war in exchange for peace and recognition. However, the implementation of this resolution has remained elusive, and the occupation continues to be a central obstacle to a lasting peace agreement, as evidenced by the current U.S.-backed peace plan for Gaza and ongoing conflicts.
The First Intifada (1987-1993): Popular Resistance
The First Intifada, erupting in December 1987, marked a significant shift in the Palestinian struggle, moving away from armed resistance towards widespread civil disobedience and popular uprising. Triggered by an incident in Gaza, the Intifada quickly spread throughout the occupied territories, encompassing demonstrations, strikes, boycotts, and the establishment of grassroots community organizations.
Palestinians engaged in non-violent forms of resistance, such as stone-throwing, tire-burning, and refusal to cooperate with Israeli authorities. This popular uprising challenged the Israeli occupation and brought international attention to the plight of the Palestinian people. The Intifada also fostered a sense of national unity and self-reliance within Palestinian society.
Israel responded with harsh repression, including mass arrests, curfews, and the use of live ammunition against protesters. Despite the violence, the Intifada continued for six years, creating immense pressure on Israel and ultimately leading to the Oslo Accords. The events underscored the enduring Palestinian desire for self-determination, a theme central to Khalidi’s framing of the “Hundred Years War,” and continue to influence current peace efforts, like the recent U.S.-backed plan.
Oslo Accords and the Illusion of Peace
The Oslo Accords, signed in 1993, represented a watershed moment, offering a glimmer of hope for a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Initiated through secret negotiations in Norway, the Accords established the Palestinian Authority (PA) and envisioned a two-state solution, with Palestinians gaining limited self-governance in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
However, the Oslo process was fraught with challenges from the outset. Key issues, such as the status of Jerusalem, the fate of Palestinian refugees, and Israeli settlements, were deferred to future negotiations. The implementation of the Accords was hampered by continued Israeli settlement expansion, Palestinian security concerns, and a lack of trust between both sides.
Despite initial optimism, the Oslo Accords ultimately failed to deliver a lasting peace. The subsequent breakdown of negotiations, coupled with the Second Intifada in 2000, shattered the illusion of a swift resolution. As Khalidi’s “Hundred Years War” perspective suggests, Oslo represented a temporary pause rather than a definitive end to the conflict, with the recent Gaza conflict and U.S.-backed peace plan demonstrating the ongoing struggle.
The Second Intifada (2000-2005): Breakdown of Negotiations
The Second Intifada, erupting in September 2000, marked a dramatic escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a definitive breakdown of the Oslo peace process. Triggered by Ariel Sharon’s controversial visit to the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif, the uprising involved widespread protests, clashes, and armed confrontations.
Unlike the First Intifada, characterized by largely non-violent resistance, the Second Intifada witnessed a significant increase in suicide bombings and other attacks targeting Israeli civilians. Israel responded with military operations, including incursions into Palestinian territories and the construction of the separation barrier.
The period saw a complete collapse of trust and a hardening of positions on both sides. Negotiations stalled, and the prospect of a two-state solution seemed increasingly distant. As Khalidi’s framing of a “Hundred Years War” implies, this wasn’t a deviation from the norm, but a continuation of a long-standing struggle. The subsequent Gaza conflict and current U.S.-backed peace plan underscore the enduring nature of this conflict, rooted in decades of unresolved issues.
Gaza and the Blockade
Following the 2005 Israeli disengagement from Gaza, Hamas gained increasing influence, culminating in their victory in the 2006 Palestinian elections. This led to a tightening of the Israeli blockade, initially justified as a security measure to prevent arms smuggling after Hamas took control.
Egypt also participated in the blockade, controlling the Rafah crossing. The restrictions imposed severely limited the movement of people and goods in and out of Gaza, causing a significant humanitarian crisis and economic hardship for the Palestinian population. Critics argue the blockade constitutes collective punishment.
Recurring cycles of violence, including the conflicts of 2008-2009, 2012, and 2014, further exacerbated the situation. The recent October 7th attacks and the subsequent conflict in Gaza highlight the ongoing consequences of this prolonged blockade, fitting within Khalidi’s concept of a “Hundred Years War.” The current U.S.-backed peace plan attempts to address the situation, but the long-term impact remains uncertain, given the deeply entrenched nature of the conflict.
Recurring Cycles of Violence: 2008-2014 Conflicts
The period between 2008 and 2014 witnessed several major escalations of violence between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, each contributing to the broader narrative of a century-long conflict, as framed by Rashid Khalidi. Operation Cast Lead (2008-2009) resulted in significant Palestinian casualties and widespread destruction of infrastructure.
Subsequent flare-ups in 2012 (Operation Pillar of Defense) and 2014 (Operation Protective Edge) followed similar patterns – rocket fire from Gaza met with Israeli airstrikes and ground incursions. These conflicts, while differing in scale and duration, consistently demonstrated the fragility of ceasefires and the difficulty of achieving lasting peace.
The ongoing blockade of Gaza, coupled with the political stalemate, fueled resentment and provided a breeding ground for extremist groups. The U.S.-backed peace plan, recently approved by the UN Security Council, seeks to break this cycle, but the history of repeated failures casts doubt on its potential for success. These conflicts underscore the cyclical nature of violence inherent in Khalidi’s “Hundred Years War” thesis.
The Rise of Hamas and its Impact
Hamas’s emergence as a significant political and military force profoundly altered the dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, becoming central to the “Hundred Years War” narrative articulated by Rashid Khalidi. Initially gaining prominence through social services, Hamas increasingly challenged the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and its pursuit of a two-state solution.
Winning the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections, Hamas subsequently seized control of Gaza in 2007, leading to a fractured Palestinian political landscape and a tightened Israeli blockade. This control enabled Hamas to launch rocket attacks against Israel, provoking retaliatory strikes and escalating cycles of violence, as seen in the conflicts of 2008-2014.
The October 7th attacks, and the subsequent Gaza conflict, represent a dramatic escalation linked to Hamas’s ideology and capabilities. The recent U.S.-backed peace plan, approved by the UN Security Council, must contend with Hamas’s continued influence and its rejection of Israel’s right to exist, complicating any path towards a lasting resolution.
International Involvement: The Role of the United Nations
The United Nations has been a consistent, yet often constrained, actor in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, central to understanding the protracted nature of the “Hundred Years War” as framed by Rashid Khalidi. From its initial involvement in the 1947 partition plan, the UN has attempted to mediate disputes and provide humanitarian assistance.
However, the UN Security Council’s effectiveness has been repeatedly hampered by the United States’ veto power, shielding Israel from censure and hindering resolutions critical of its policies. Despite numerous resolutions condemning Israeli settlements and actions in the occupied territories, implementation remains limited.
Recently, the UN Security Council approved a U.S.-backed peace plan for Gaza, following over two years of fighting, signaling a renewed, albeit potentially fragile, attempt at intervention. The UN’s agencies, like UNRWA, continue to provide essential services to Palestinian refugees, but face funding challenges and political obstacles, highlighting the complexities of international involvement.
The United States’ Position and Peace Plans
The United States has consistently played a dominant, yet controversial, role in shaping the trajectory of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, deeply influencing what Rashid Khalidi terms the “Hundred Years War.” Historically, the U.S. has maintained a strong strategic alliance with Israel, providing substantial military and economic aid.
This support has often translated into a bias perceived by Palestinians and many international observers, hindering impartial mediation efforts. Numerous U.S.-led peace initiatives, from Camp David to the Oslo Accords, have failed to achieve a lasting resolution, often due to disagreements over core issues like borders, settlements, and the status of Jerusalem.
Currently, the U.S. is backing a new peace plan for Gaza, recently approved by the UN Security Council after over two years of conflict. However, the plan’s details and prospects for success remain uncertain, given the deep-seated mistrust and ongoing violence. The U.S. position continues to be a critical factor in determining the future of the region.
The October 7th Attacks and Subsequent Gaza Conflict
The Hamas attacks of October 7th, 2023, marked a significant escalation in the ongoing “Hundred Years War” on Palestine, as framed by historian Rashid Khalidi. These attacks, resulting in a substantial loss of Israeli life, triggered a massive military response from Israel, initiating a large-scale conflict focused on Gaza.
The ensuing Israeli offensive has led to widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis within Gaza, with a significant number of Palestinian casualties and displacement. The scale of the devastation has drawn international condemnation and calls for a ceasefire, yet the conflict continues to rage.
This recent phase of the conflict underscores the cyclical nature of violence that Khalidi’s framing highlights. The attacks and subsequent response represent a dramatic intensification of the long-standing struggle, further complicating any prospects for a peaceful resolution and deepening the existing grievances on both sides. The UN Security Council recently voted on a U.S.-backed peace plan following these events.
The Current U.S.-Backed Peace Plan for Gaza
Following more than two years of intense fighting, particularly after the October 7th attacks and the subsequent conflict in Gaza, the United Nations Security Council recently approved a U.S.-backed peace plan. Details of the plan remain somewhat opaque, but it represents the latest attempt to address the deeply entrenched issues fueling the “Hundred Years War” on Palestine, as conceptualized by Rashid Khalidi.
The plan’s specifics are expected to involve provisions for reconstruction in Gaza, security guarantees for Israel, and a framework for future negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian representatives. However, its success hinges on the willingness of all parties to engage constructively and address the core grievances that have perpetuated the conflict for over a century.
Critics question whether the plan adequately addresses the fundamental issues of Palestinian self-determination and the ongoing occupation. The plan’s viability remains uncertain, given the deep-seated mistrust and the history of failed peace initiatives. It is a crucial, yet potentially fragile, step in a long and complex process.
Rashid Khalidi’s Perspective on the Ongoing Struggle
Renowned historian Rashid Khalidi frames the Israeli-Palestinian conflict not as a series of isolated events, but as a continuous, century-long struggle – “The Hundred Years War on Palestine.” His perspective, recently presented in a talk at the American University in Cairo, challenges conventional narratives and emphasizes the enduring nature of the conflict.
Khalidi’s analysis traces the roots of the conflict back to the early 20th century, highlighting the impact of British colonialism, the Balfour Declaration, and the subsequent displacement of Palestinians. He argues that the current situation is not a deviation from the historical norm, but rather a continuation of a long-standing pattern of dispossession and resistance.
His work stresses the importance of understanding the historical context to comprehend the present challenges. Khalidi’s perspective offers a critical lens through which to analyze the recent U.S.-backed peace plan for Gaza, questioning whether it adequately addresses the underlying causes of the conflict and the Palestinian quest for self-determination.
The Concept of a “Hundred Years War” – Applicability and Criticism
The analogy of a “Hundred Years War” applied to Palestine, popularized by Rashid Khalidi, provokes debate regarding its accuracy and implications. While effectively conveying the protracted and seemingly intractable nature of the conflict, critics question whether it’s a historically appropriate comparison.
The original Hundred Years War, a medieval European conflict, involved clearly defined states and dynastic claims. The Israeli-Palestinian situation is characterized by asymmetrical power dynamics, non-state actors like Hamas, and a complex web of international involvement, differing significantly from the medieval context.
However, proponents argue the analogy’s strength lies in its depiction of a continuous, multi-generational struggle marked by recurring cycles of violence, punctuated by periods of uneasy calm. The recent U.S.-backed peace plan, following over two years of fighting, exemplifies this cyclical pattern.
Ultimately, the “Hundred Years War” framing serves as a powerful rhetorical device, emphasizing the need for a fundamental reassessment of the conflict’s historical roots and potential resolutions, rather than a literal historical parallel.
Future Prospects and Potential Resolutions
Considering the framing of the conflict as a “Hundred Years War,” prospects for a swift resolution appear dim, demanding a shift from short-term ceasefires to addressing the core issues fueling the prolonged struggle. The recently approved U.S.-backed peace plan for Gaza represents one attempt, yet its long-term viability remains uncertain.
A sustainable resolution necessitates acknowledging the historical grievances, including the 1948 Nakba and subsequent displacement, as highlighted by scholars like Rashid Khalidi. Addressing the power imbalance between Israel and Palestine is crucial, alongside ensuring Palestinian self-determination and statehood.
Furthermore, regional and international actors must move beyond partisan positions and prioritize a just and equitable outcome. This includes a re-evaluation of the role of the United Nations and a commitment to enforcing international law.
Ultimately, a lasting peace requires a fundamental transformation in perspectives, fostering mutual recognition, and prioritizing the human rights and security of both Israelis and Palestinians, breaking the cycle of violence.